The conference drew a record number of participants from around the world, highlighting a growing urgency and shared commitment to mobilize resources for sustainable development.
Monrovia – Deputy Minister of Finance for Budget and Development Planning, Tanneh G. Brumson, has called for increased attention to Domestic Resource Mobilization (DRM), stressing its vital role in national development, particularly in Liberia’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector.
Francis G. Boayue
Speaking virtually on Monday at a high-level side event of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Sevilla, Spain, Minister Brumson described DRM as “deeply practical, immediate, and vital” in the face of decreasing Official Development Assistance (ODA) from major international donors including USAID.
The conference drew a record number of participants from around the world, highlighting a growing urgency and shared commitment to mobilize resources for sustainable development, especially in countries like Liberia that have historically depended on foreign aid.
Minister Brumson noted that government spending on WASH in Liberia has remained critically low, accounting for less than 5 percent of total expenditure, with about 95 percent coming from donor support.
She cited a 2023 UNICEF/WHO report showing that in 2022, one in four Liberians lacked access to clean water near their homes, eight in ten lacked access to adequate toilets, and nine in ten did not have soap or water to wash their hands at home.
She acknowledged Liberia’s reliance on development aid to recover from crises such as the civil war, the Ebola outbreak, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
To reduce dependency, Liberia has adopted a Medium-Term Revenue Strategy (MTRS), developed with IMF support, to expand the tax base by digitizing systems and formalizing the informal sector. The strategy also aims to streamline tax and customs administration and implement legal and institutional reforms to improve accountability.
“These efforts have already led to measurable improvements in tax revenue, compliance, and the credibility of our national revenue system,” Brumson said, adding that domestic funds have been crucial in restoring rural water points and school sanitation, even when external funds were delayed.
The government is also developing a WASH Account tool through the National WASH Commission, with backing from WaterAid and WHO.
This tool is designed to track WASH funding sources, allocations, and usage, thereby promoting better policymaking, enhancing civil society oversight, and improving service delivery in targeted communities.
Brumson acknowledged ongoing challenges including inconsistent domestic financing, overlapping institutional mandates, and public mistrust.
WaterAid Liberia Country Director Chuchu Selma emphasized the importance of diversifying WASH funding through DRM.
She urged the government to reduce wasteful spending and redirect funds to the WASH sector, improve productivity by hiring skilled personnel, and expand interventions through innovative financing and private sector investment to close the funding gap.
The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development runs from June 30 to July 3, 2025, bringing together global leaders to tackle financing challenges that threaten the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The side event featuring Minister Brumson was held under the theme “Accelerating Domestic Resource Mobilisation through Transparency and Budget Tracking: Insights from the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Sector” and was organized by WaterAid, Sanitation and Water for All (SWA), Agenda for Change, and the United Nations.
