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By: Emmanuel Bondo/+231888302924/+231770681699/[email protected]
The Liberian Government has acknowledged the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) as the top contributor to the country’s agricultural sector, commending its vital support in recent years.
IFAD, a specialized agency of the United Nations, is dedicated to addressing poverty and hunger in rural areas of developing countries. It is the only multilateral organization that focuses exclusively on rural economies and food security, supporting 180 member states worldwide.
Liberia’s Deputy Minister of Finance for Economic Management, Dephue Zuo, highlighted that since IFAD resumed operations in Liberia in 2009—after a 20-year suspension due to the civil war—the organization has continuously provided millions of US dollars to improve food security in the country.
“We are in final discussions with all partners funding the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development. Given that IFAD is now the largest donor in the agriculture sector, it will take the lead in aligning strategies,” Minister Zuo noted.
During a two-day stakeholders’ consultation workshop in Monrovia, Minister Zuo also recognized the World Bank as the second-largest donor to Liberia’s agriculture sector, following the suspension of support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The Deputy Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing the challenges posed by USAID’s suspension, urging Liberians to support IFAD and the World Bank in enhancing food security across the country.
“We aim for participatory development to ensure that agricultural production is not concentrated in one region but instead benefits all counties, focusing on comparative advantages and economic productivity,” Minister Zuo emphasized.
Pascaline Barankeba, IFAD’s Representative to Liberia, emphasized the need for greater support for women, youth, and persons with disabilities to empower them in increasing food production. She also expressed gratitude to the Liberian Government, particularly the Ministries of Agriculture and Finance, for their collaborative efforts over the years.
“At IFAD, we are dedicated to strengthening our partnership with the Liberian government through the County Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP), which aims to reduce poverty, enhance nutrition security, and strengthen the resilience of rural populations,” Barankeba affirmed.
The two-day workshop, organized by IFAD and the Liberian Government, focused on improving the inclusivity and performance of agricultural value chains, creating jobs, and ensuring food and nutrition security for rural communities, including women, youth, and poor households.
David Akoi, Liberia’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture for Planning and Development, urged participants to take practical steps to boost food production and develop strategies that positively impact the livelihoods of ordinary citizens.
“We expect all sectors of agriculture to design actionable plans that will guide us in transforming the sector by 2030,” Minister Akoi concluded, stressing the importance of continued collaboration between the government and the private sector.
