The Government of Liberia is set to convene the 2026 Liberia Diaspora Annual Conference from September 25–27, 2026 in Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area, with the head of the Diaspora office seeking to transform engagement with Liberians abroad into concrete investments, partnerships, and measurable national development outcomes.
Organized through the Office of Diaspora Affairs in the Office of the President, Erasmus T. Williams said that the three-day conference will be held under the theme “From Dialogue to Delivery, signaling what organizers describe as a strategic shift from discussions about Liberia’s diaspora to practical actions capable of contributing to the country’s economic transformation.
According to him, the conference comes as the administration of President Joseph N. Boakai intensifies efforts to mobilize Liberia’s large diaspora community as a source of investment, expertise, innovation, and strategic partnerships in support of the government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID) and the Diaspora Strategic Plan 2024–2027.
The head of the Diaspora office explained that the 2026 gathering will build on the success of the inaugural conference in 2025, which brought together more than 700 delegates in person and over 1,300 virtual participants from 43 countries. “Last year, we proved what’s possible. This year, we deliver, underscoring the conference’s emphasis on turning diaspora engagement into tangible results,” he added.
Unlike a conference centered primarily on dialogue, he said, the year’s event is expected to place investment and implementation at the heart of its agenda, creating platforms for Liberian entrepreneurs and investors in the diaspora to connect with viable opportunities at home.
According to him, the September 25–26 sessions will focus on high-impact investment engagements, while September 27 will feature a Presidential Town Hall, providing members of the diaspora an opportunity to engage directly with President Boakai and other senior government officials.
Williams revealed that discussions are expected to cover diaspora capital mobilization, technology and innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment opportunities in critical sectors including agriculture, healthcare, and education.
He told journalists that organizers are also expected to advance proposals for the establishment of a Diaspora Investment Fund, Diaspora Engagement Commission, and Diaspora Savings Bonds, initiatives intended to create structured mechanisms through which Liberians abroad can participate more directly in the country’s development.
Williams further disclosed that the conference is being coordinated by a National Steering Committee chaired by Ambassador Emmett Dunn, with Ambassador MacDella Cooper serving as Vice Chair and Rev. Dr. Francis O.S. Tabla as Vice Chair for Operations.
He said the committee includes representatives from key government ministries and agencies, alongside international development partners, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Meanwhile, the Office of Diaspora Affairs is calling on Liberians and friends of Liberia across North America, Europe, Africa, and other parts of the world to participate in the conference.
He added that the gathering is intended to redefine the role of Liberia’s diaspora, from primarily supporting families through remittances to becoming active investors, innovators, entrepreneurs, and strategic partners in Liberia’s long-term development.
With the theme, “From Dialogue to Delivery,” the 2026 conference is being positioned not simply as another diaspora gathering, but as a platform to convert Liberia’s global human and financial resources into investment, jobs, innovation, and sustainable national growth. Registration is now open at: Liberia Diaspora Annual Conference Registration.
