MONROVIA, Liberia — The United Nations Development Program (UNDP), in collaboration with the Government of Liberia and development partners, has brought together government institutions, civil society organizations, development partners, consultants, and other stakeholders to identify practical and transformational solutions to Liberia’s development challenges.
The stakeholders convened on September 2, 2026, for a co-creation workshop aimed at exchanging knowledge, experiences, and perspectives; assessing ongoing development efforts; identifying critical gaps; and contributing to a shared framework for advancing Liberia’s development priorities.
Emphasis on Government Ownership
Speaking at the workshop, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Louis Kuukpen stressed the importance of moving away from traditional approaches in which development frameworks are designed by a limited number of actors and later presented to stakeholders for validation.
He said the co-creation approach is intended to promote government leadership, broad participation, partnership, and joint ownership from the outset.
“While consultants and technical experts are supporting the process, the resulting framework should ultimately reflect the priorities and aspirations of the Government and people of Liberia,” Kuukpen said.
Representing the Ministry of Health, Fohn T. Gborweah, Assistant Minister in the Office of the Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs, welcomed the opportunity for the health sector to participate in the process.
He highlighted the importance of strengthening Liberia’s health systems, improving access and equity, and ensuring that development interventions translate into better outcomes for communities.
Paul Gboya, Senior Economist in the Office of the Deputy Minister for Economic Management at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), also welcomed the initiative, emphasizing the importance of sustained government leadership and ownership throughout the process.
Gboya underscored the need to align emerging priorities with national development planning while strengthening coordination among government institutions, development partners, and other stakeholders.
From Projects to Transformational Programmes
A major focus of the workshop was the need to move beyond fragmented and isolated projects toward coordinated, strategic, and transformational programmes capable of delivering sustainable results.
Participants examined a range of areas, including sustainable livelihoods, the green and blue economies, education, economic development, and social development, among other sectors considered critical to Liberia’s long-term transformation.
The co-creation process will also examine existing programmes and initiatives to determine what is working, where gaps remain, which successful interventions could be scaled up, and where stronger coordination or additional technical support may be required.
Participants stressed the importance of aligning Liberia’s development priorities with relevant national development frameworks, strategic plans, and the United Nations Cooperation Framework (UNCF).
They also emphasized that effective development cooperation requires active participation from government, development partners, civil society organizations, communities, the private sector, and other relevant stakeholders.
From Dialogue to Action
The workshop concluded with agreement on several next steps, including completion of the gap analysis, preparation and circulation of a draft framework for stakeholder review, incorporation of feedback, and the convening of a validation workshop.
Stakeholders also committed to maintaining engagement throughout the process and ensuring that the final framework reflects the collective priorities and perspectives of those involved.
The workshop reinforced the principle that co-creation is not simply about bringing stakeholders around the same table. Rather, it is about ensuring that their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives meaningfully shape the development framework and, ultimately, Liberia’s path toward sustainable and inclusive development.
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