MONROVIA, Liberia, September 8, 2026 — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Liberian government and development partners are working on a new framework aimed at shifting development interventions in Liberia from fragmented projects to coordinated programs with broader and more sustainable impact.
The initiative emerged from a co-creation workshop held September 2, bringing together government institutions, civil society organizations, development partners, consultants and other stakeholders to identify solutions to Liberia’s development challenges.
Participants reviewed existing development interventions, identified gaps and discussed priorities that could form part of a shared framework for future programs.
UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Louis Kuukpen said the process seeks to move away from the traditional approach in which development frameworks are designed by a limited number of actors and later presented to stakeholders for validation.
Instead, he said, government institutions and other stakeholders are being involved from the beginning to promote broader participation and ownership.
“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.
The framework is expected to align development interventions with Liberia’s national priorities while strengthening coordination among government institutions, international partners and other stakeholders.
Paul Gboya, Senior Economist in the Office of the Deputy Minister for Economic Management at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), stressed the importance of government leadership throughout the process.
He said priorities emerging from the exercise should be aligned with national development planning and contribute to stronger coordination among government institutions and development partners.
Fohn T. Gborweah, representing the Ministry of Health, highlighted the need to strengthen Liberia’s health system, improve access to services and address inequalities in healthcare delivery.
He said development interventions should translate into measurable improvements for communities.
From Projects to Programs
A major focus of the workshop was the need to move away from isolated development projects toward coordinated and strategic programs capable of delivering sustainable results.
Participants examined potential areas for intervention, including sustainable livelihoods, education, economic and social development, and Liberia’s green and blue economies.
The process will assess existing programs to determine which interventions are producing results, identify gaps and examine opportunities to expand successful initiatives.
It will also identify areas requiring stronger coordination and additional technical support.
Participants stressed the need to align the proposed framework with Liberia’s national development plans and the United Nations Cooperation Framework.
They also called for greater involvement of government, development partners, civil society, communities and the private sector in designing and implementing development programs.
Next Steps
The workshop concluded with participants agreeing to complete a gap analysis and prepare a draft framework for stakeholder review.
Feedback from stakeholders will then be incorporated before a validation workshop is convened to consider the proposed framework.
Participants also agreed to maintain engagement throughout the process to ensure the final document reflects the priorities identified by the various stakeholders.
UNDP said the co-creation approach is intended to ensure that stakeholder participation goes beyond consultation and that their experiences and perspectives influence the design of future development interventions in Liberia.
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