The annual commemoration of the Day of the African Child has become more than a symbolic observance in Liberia—it is a national reckoning. Under the theme “Planning and Budgeting for Children’s Rights: Progress Since 2010,” this year’s ceremony, led by UNICEF Representative Mr. Andy Brooks, offered a candid analysis of Liberia’s child welfare landscape, emphasizing that genuine development cannot take root without deliberate investments in the lives of children.
Speaking at a ceremony organized by the Ministry of Education, Mr. Brooks presented an alarming yet actionable snapshot of the country’s child welfare indicators. Despite Liberia’s progress in budget transparency and sectoral reforms over the past decade, challenges remain entrenched. He pointed out that nearly 50 percent of the population are children, and their welfare remains underfunded and poorly prioritized.
According to a 2023 Afrobarometer survey, 83 percent of Liberians believe child welfare remains inadequate, with issues such as high out-of-school rates and limited access to healthcare driving concern.
Mr. Brooks traced Liberia’s journey in child-centered planning from the early 2010s, when child-specific budgetary markers were virtually nonexistent, to more recent efforts, such as the implementation of the Child Survival Action Plan (2017–2020) and the Local Government Act, which granted counties more authority over child-related planning. The 2020 Child Budget Brief, the 2023 Child Well-Being Dashboard, and programme-based budgeting in education were highlighted as critical milestones in improving budget accountability and service delivery.
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Yet, the data still paints a sobering picture. Under-five mortality stands at 93 deaths per 1,000 live births, 30 percent of children under five are stunted, and over 50 percent of school-aged children remain out of school. Birth registration coverage is just 66 percent, and the execution rate of child-focused budgets at the county level lags at 24 percent. Perhaps most concerning, 70 percent of funding for social services is sourced externally, signaling weak domestic resource mobilization.
Against this backdrop, Mr. Brooks outlined UNICEF’s bold alignment with Liberia’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), a five-year plan (2025–2029) aiming to reshape the nation’s human capital trajectory. He proposed clear, measurable targets such as reducing under-five mortality by half, slashing maternal mortality, expanding universal health coverage to 80 percent, eliminating open defecation, and significantly reducing gender-based violence and child marriage.
“These are not lofty aspirations,” Mr. Brooks asserted. “They are grounded in the needs and rights of Liberia’s children and achievable through coordinated, accountable planning and budgeting.”
To achieve these ambitions, UNICEF is advocating for several concrete steps: embedding child-focused targets in every ministry’s budget planning, tracking progress through quarterly public scorecards, and establishing a dedicated budget line for children’s programs. Moreover, Brooks called for stronger institutional coordination across ministries and between counties, noting that true progress hinges on a whole-of-government approach.
The urgency of the situation was echoed by Education Minister Dr. Jarso Jallah, who reaffirmed the Boakai-Koung administration’s commitment to improving access and quality of education. She encouraged students to seize opportunities made available through public support and educational reforms. However, she also acknowledged that the government must do more to ensure that funding leads to tangible outcomes in classrooms and communities.
Roberto Cooper, Chairperson of the Liberian National Children Forum (LNCF) delivering the keynote address, offered a compelling youth perspective. “There is nothing for the children without the involvement of children,” he declared. His speech urged leaders to fund and support platforms that allow children to participate in shaping decisions affecting their lives. He emphasized that safeguarding child rights also means reactivating children’s platforms, rebuilding coordination structures, and prioritizing child protection services.
In a particularly stirring call to action, Cooper declared, “A nation that invests in children is a nation that invests in its peace. A nation that protects its children protects its future.” He called on leaders, partners, and civil society groups to rise beyond rhetorical commitments and deliver on promises.
While Liberia has laid the groundwork for child-sensitive planning, the current state of child health, education, and protection indicates a pressing need to move from frameworks to implementation. Budgeting for children must no longer be an afterthought or a donor-dependent effort—it must become a central pillar of Liberia’s national development strategy.
In a country where nearly half the population is under 18, failure to prioritize child well-being undermines national stability, economic growth, and long-term development. Investing in children is not charity; it is statecraft.
As this year’s Day of the African Child draws attention to budgeting and action, it is evident that Liberia’s future hinges not just on how much is spent, but how smartly and transparently those funds are allocated and implemented. The metrics are clear, the roadmap is laid, and the voices of children are louder than ever.
The time to act is now—not with promises, but with policies backed by budgets. If Liberia is to honor the legacy of Soweto’s brave children and build a thriving future, then every cedi, every decision, and every development plan must begin—and end—with its children.
