–Partnership Targets Modernized County Services, Stronger Local Institutions and More Inclusive Community Development
MONROVIA, Liberia — The Ministry of Local Government (MLG) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have reaffirmed their commitment to advancing Liberia’s decentralization agenda, strengthening local governance and improving public service delivery across the country.
The renewed commitment emerged from a high-level courtesy meeting in Monrovia between UNDP Resident Representative Aliou Mamadu Dia and Minister of Local Government F. Sakila Nyumalin, during which the two sides discussed priorities for bringing government services closer to citizens and strengthening development at the local and sub-local levels.
Discussions focused on decentralization, local governance, public service delivery, peacebuilding, reconciliation and sustainable community development.
Dia: Decentralization Critical to Better Services
Dia commended Minister Nyumalin for his leadership and commitment to deepening decentralization, particularly efforts to modernize County Service Centers, strengthen peacebuilding and reconciliation initiatives and promote more inclusive local governance.
“Strengthening decentralization is critical to bringing government services closer to the people and ensuring more efficient and accountable service delivery,” Dia said.
He reaffirmed UNDP’s willingness to support initiatives aimed at modernizing County Service Centers, expanding digital governance systems and strengthening community development mechanisms across Liberia.
The discussions also highlighted the Accelerated Community Development Programme (ACDP) and its contribution to community-led development.
Dia stressed the importance of transforming County Development Agendas into comprehensive County Investment Plans, saying such a transition could help create a more targeted and sustainable framework for local economic growth.
National Museum Enters Decentralization Talks
The meeting also expanded beyond conventional decentralization issues, with the two sides discussing opportunities to strengthen national peace and reconciliation efforts through the preservation of Liberia’s history and cultural heritage.
Among the proposals discussed was support for establishing a National Museum of Liberia.
Dia announced plans to facilitate a learning mission to South Africa and Rwanda to examine approaches to establishing and managing national museums.
“I want to leave a tangible legacy in Liberia,” Dia said. “Our partnership should continue to generate lasting benefits for the Liberian people. A National Museum is important for preserving our collective history and strengthening national identity for future generations.”
The proposed learning mission is intended to expose Liberian stakeholders to experiences and institutional models that could inform the development of a national museum.
Ministry Seeks Support for One-Stop Centers
Minister Nyumalin expressed appreciation for UNDP’s longstanding support to Liberia’s decentralization and governance reforms, while acknowledging infrastructure and institutional capacity challenges facing the Ministry.
He outlined several government priorities, including plans to establish modern One-Stop-Shop Service Centers in three counties.
The Ministry has developed plans for 32-room One-Stop-Shop Service Centers in Zwedru, Grand Bassa and Lofa Counties.
Under the proposed arrangement, the Liberian Government would undertake construction, while seeking UNDP support for furniture, digital equipment and electricity infrastructure.
The centers are expected to provide a more coordinated platform for delivering government services at the county level.
Local Government Training Institute Proposed
Another priority presented by Nyumalin was the establishment of a Local Government Training Institute in Bong County.
The Ministry is seeking to partner with UNDP and other development partners to establish the institution as a center of excellence for training local government officials and public servants.
The proposed institute is intended to address institutional capacity constraints by strengthening the skills and professional capacity of personnel responsible for administering local governance.
County Treasuries to Be Modernized
The Ministry is also pursuing plans to integrate County Treasuries into modernized County Service Centers in every county.
The initiative is intended to improve coordination and create more functional spaces for government operations at the local level.
The Ministry also plans to provide office accommodations for UN personnel in the centers to strengthen coordination between the Government and development partners and improve service delivery.
Nyumalin said the initiatives have received presidential approval and are expected to be implemented over the next two years.
UNDP Pledges Continued Support
In response to the priorities outlined by the Minister, Dia reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to working with the Ministry to advance the proposed reforms.
He said discussions would begin within the UN Country Team regarding the possibility of assigning a dedicated focal person to strengthen coordination and collaboration between UNDP and the Ministry of Local Government.
“We will work closely with the Government of Liberia to advance these transformative initiatives,” Dia said.
“Together, we can build a more resilient, decentralized, and inclusive governance system that delivers meaningful results for all Liberians.”
The proposed focal-point arrangement is expected to improve coordination between the two institutions as they work to translate the decentralization agenda into concrete programs at the county and community levels.
Decentralization Agenda Gains New Focus
The meeting underscores the government’s broader effort to strengthen governance beyond Monrovia by improving institutional capacity and bringing public services closer to communities.
For Liberia’s decentralization process to produce tangible results, however, the success of the proposed initiatives will depend on sustained financing, institutional capacity and effective coordination among government ministries, local authorities and development partners.
The planned One-Stop-Shop centers, Local Government Training Institute and modernization of County Treasuries represent practical components of that effort, while the proposed National Museum adds a cultural and historical dimension to the partnership.
Both sides concluded the meeting by reaffirming their commitment to decentralization, stronger local governance institutions and inclusive, transparent and sustainable development across Liberia.
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