The Liberian government has met with the members of the Diplomatic Corps to discuss the far-reaching implications of the recent USAID aid freeze and the government’s strategy to mitigate its effects.
The high-level meeting, graced by the Minister of Finance, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan and his Deputy for Economic Management, Dephue Zuo, was presided over by UN Resident Coordinator, Christine N. Umutoni and brought together key international stakeholders to explore collaborative solutions to sustain Liberia’s developmental progress despite the funding setback.
The meeting brought together a distinguished group of diplomats, including the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Cameroonian Ambassador Augustine Gang, alongside the Ambassadors of the United States, the European Union, Germany, Nigeria, Ghana, and other partner nations.
Their presence underscored the international community’s concern over the aid freeze and its potential impact on Liberia’s social and economic development.
Deputy Minister Zuo outlined the growing challenges posed by the USAID aid freeze, emphasizing the strain on critical sectors such as health, education, and electoral support. “The effects of the aid suspension are already being felt across key sectors,” Zuo warned, adding that, “without immediate intervention, the consequences for vulnerable communities could be severe.”
Minister Ngafuan struck a note of cautious optimism, expressing confidence that Liberia would navigate the crisis successfully, drawing on the nation’s resilience in past emergencies. “Liberia has faced and overcome significant crises before,” he remarked, citing the 2008-2009 global food, fuel, and financial crisis, the Ebola epidemic, and the COVID-19 pandemic as examples where international cooperation proved essential.
Ngafuan emphasized that the government is taking decisive action through “expenditure rationalization and robust domestic resource mobilization” to counterbalance the aid freeze. He also indicated that further proactive and reactive measures would be introduced as the situation evolves. “Our government remains committed to protecting essential programs, particularly in the health and education sectors, which are most vulnerable to this funding shortfall,” he assured the diplomats.
The finance minister urged Liberia’s international partners to step up and bridge the funding gap. “We will intervene to sustain critical health and education programs, but we call on our partners to scale up their support to complement our efforts,” Ngafuan stated. He stressed that while the government is adopting internal measures to address the crisis, sustained collaboration with bilateral and multilateral partners remains indispensable.
Responding to Liberia’s plea, the assembled Ambassadors reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the nation through this challenging period. “Our countries stand with Liberia in thick and thin,” declared Cameroonian Ambassador Augustine Gang, speaking on behalf of the Diplomatic Corps.
One significant development during the meeting came from the European Union Ambassador, who announced that the EU would provide funding to Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to monitor the upcoming Nimba By-election.
This intervention is crucial as electoral support is among the areas affected by the USAID aid suspension. “We recognize the importance of credible elections for Liberia’s democratic stability, and we are prepared to step in where needed,” the EU Ambassador affirmed.
In his closing remarks, Minister Ngafuan committed to maintaining open lines of communication with international partners as the situation unfolds. “The government will continue to provide regular updates and engage with our partners on evolving developments,” he pledged.
Looking ahead, Ngafuan revealed that the government, with support from the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is organizing a high-level Partners Roundtable at the end of March 2025. This meeting will focus on addressing the USAID aid freeze and bolstering Liberia’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID).
“The Roundtable will be an opportunity to deepen collaboration, identify new funding streams, and reinforce our collective commitment to Liberia’s development,” Ngafuan concluded.
As Liberia confronts the challenges posed by the USAID aid freeze, the government is looking to its international partners to stand in solidarity and ensure that critical development programs remain on course. The meeting served as a vital platform to galvanize support, reaffirm commitments, and chart a path forward amid uncertain times.
