In a bid to strengthen governance, Integrity Watch Liberia (IWL) and the Government of Ireland through its Embassy in Liberia has officially signed a US$170,000 grant agreement to implement the “Strengthening Inclusive Governance and Natural Resource Accountability in Liberia” project.
The one-year project is expected to enhance Liberia’s natural resource governance framework, ensuring that resources are managed for the benefit of all Liberians while addressing critical financing gaps.
Speaking at the signing ceremony on Monday December 9, 2024, Integrity Watch Liberia Executive Director Harold M. Aidoo described the initiative as a critical step toward enhancing transparency, accountability, and governance in Liberia’s natural resource sector.
“This partnership reflects a shared commitment between Integrity Watch Liberia and Irish Aid to address critical governance challenges and foster sustainable development in Liberia,” Aidoo said.
He outlined the project’s objectives which include: Enhancing the Liberian Legislature’s capacity to scrutinize policies and agreements related to natural resources, supporting civil society advocacy for transparent and accountable resource governance and strengthening oversight functions of regulatory bodies to ensure compliance with established policies.
“The project will create spaces for dialogue and engagement, empowering citizens to hold decision-makers accountable,” Aidoo said.
He said the initiative is timely as Liberia implements its new five-year development framework, the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, which requires $7.6 billion in financing.
“Even with the $5billion we can raise over the next five years, there’s still a $3 billion gap. Programs like these help us address such challenges, enabling us to negotiate better concessions, ensure tax compliance, and strengthen governance within the Natural Resource Center,” Aidoo explained.
For his part Ambassador Gérard Considine reaffirmed the Government of Ireland’s dedication to governance and development in Liberia.
“This is part of our second five-year strategy in Liberia since establishing the embassy in 2018. Governance is a pillar of Ireland’s work across all countries, including Liberia,” he said.
The Ambassador highlighted Ireland’s focus on addressing gaps not covered by other donors and noted that organizations like Naymote and the Governance Consortium CENTAL would play a pivotal role in fostering accountability and enabling citizens to access information on resource and budget utilization.
According to him, the project is also aligned with Liberia’s efforts to ensure that revenues from its natural resources are managed effectively and equitably. It’s about making sure the Liberian people benefit directly from their country’s wealth.
Ambassador Considine emphasized Ireland’s support for institutional strengthening, stating, “Institution-building is vital, and we believe this initiative will significantly contribute to Liberia’s sustainable development goals.”
By Tonita N. Copson
