Ministry of Finance to host Strategic retreat

In response to a significant reduction in assistance from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Liberia’s Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has announced the organization of a strategic retreat to address emerging challenges within the country’s global development framework.

By: Kruah Thompson

Monrovia, Liberia, April 16, 2025: The retreat is scheduled to take place on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at the Ministerial Complex in Congo Town.

Speaking at the regular press briefing hosted by the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism, Deputy Minister of Finance Dephue Zuo disclosed that the retreat will serve as a platform to evaluate the progress of Liberia’s development agenda, known as the AAID, which was unveiled by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai in January of this year.

According to Deputy Minister Zuo, the AAID was launched with a clear roadmap for resource allocation, drawing support from international donors, the private sector, the diaspora community, and domestic revenues.

As outlined in the national budget presentation, the government anticipated 20 percent of funding to come from donors, 30 percent from the private sector, 10 percent from the diaspora, and 30 percent from government resources.

However, with the recent decision by the United States, Liberia’s second-largest donor, to significantly reduce aid not just to Liberia but also to other developing nations, the government has been compelled to reevaluate its strategy.

“This situation calls for urgent steps to assess where we are and how best we can align our priorities with available donor support to repurpose existing funding,” Zuo stated.

The upcoming retreat will bring together development partners, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to explore ways to fill the funding gap and realign efforts under the AAID framework.

The event aims to foster innovative partnerships and collective approaches that ensure continued support for Liberia’s flagship development projects.

Meanwhile, key development partners, including the United Nations Resident Coordinator Christian Umutoni and the Swedish Ambassador to Liberia, welcomed the government’s initiative.

They praised the planned retreat as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation and mutual accountability, noting that inclusive dialogue is essential to addressing current development challenges.

Both international representatives expressed optimism about the retreat, describing it as a timely and necessary step to encourage national ownership and coordination in development planning.

The Ministry of Finance says it remains committed to working closely with all stakeholders to secure sustainable and well-coordinated support for the country’s development agenda.