By Nukanah Kollie
GBARNGA, BONG COUNTY – In a spacious conference hall in Gbarnga, county officials settled into their seats, anticipation evident as they opened notebooks and exchanged quiet discussions. Superintendents, county development officers, finance officers, and council representatives from across Liberia had gathered for the event. For some, the journey from remote counties had been long; for others, it was a valuable opportunity to meet and collaborate directly with peers from neighboring regions.
The occasion marked the opening of a four-day intensive capacity-building program initiated by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, in partnership with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, designed to strengthen the skills of local county officials and members of county councils nationwide.
The training, scheduled from August 13–16, is being held simultaneously in Gbarnga, Bong County, and Buchanan, Grand Bassa County. It targets officials from all fifteen political sub-divisions of Liberia, bringing together decision-makers and technical experts from multiple counties.
“We are here to equip county leaders and their technical teams with the tools to plan, prioritize, and execute development projects effectively,” Williams told reporters in Gbarnga.
Held under the theme “Strengthening County Officials and Technicians’ Capacity in Project Planning and County Development Agenda (CDA) Implementation,” the workshop has brought together superintendents, county development officers, county finance officers, regional development officers, county council chairs, and other senior local government personnel.
Training Focus and Structure
Williams outlined that the first two days emphasize county leadership roles and responsibilities, bringing county council members and administrative teams together to reflect on lessons learned from the 2008 County Development Agenda, share experiences, and discuss the prioritization and execution of projects.
The sessions also include insights from the “Rwanda experience,” showcasing how coordinated planning, stakeholder engagement, and strict accountability have fostered local development in that country.
The final two days are devoted to intensive technical training in project development, covering problem identification and solution mapping, developing results metrics, stakeholder evaluation, risk and assumption analysis, project budgeting, as well as team formation and project management frameworks.
“This is not just about theory,” Williams emphasized. “By the end of the training, participants should be able to design bankable projects that can attract funding and deliver real impact in their communities.”
Challenges and Opportunities
While commending the engagement and participation of county leaders, Williams acknowledged the logistical and financial challenges of organizing such nationwide trainings.
He cited limited funding as a major obstacle and noted the difficulties in transporting participants from remote counties such as Maryland and Grand Kru to central training locations.
Despite these challenges, Williams expressed optimism about the long-term benefits of the training, particularly following participants’ agreement to develop county action plans, practical roadmaps for implementing their CDAs.
Broader Significance
The County Development Agenda serves as a crucial tool for aligning county-level priorities with Liberia’s national development strategy. Effective CDA implementation requires close coordination among local government authorities, the legislature, civil society, and citizens.
By training both leadership and technical personnel, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Internal Affairs aim to bridge gaps in capacity, communication, and project execution, ensuring that development plans are transformed into tangible outcomes for communities.
As the week-long training progresses, participants are expected to engage in peer-to-peer learning, exchange best practices, and strengthen networks for inter-county collaboration.
“We believe that empowering our local government structures is the foundation for sustained development across Liberia,” Williams concluded.
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