The World Bank has taken issue with the Director General of National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFFA), Emma Metieh Glassco, in relation to the Liberia Sustainable Management of Fisheries Project (LSMFP).
In a communication to Madam Glasso dated August 16, 2024, the Bank said, “This letter serves as a formal expression of our concern with the report’s content. The document contains factual inaccuracies and weighty allegations that fundamentally mischaracterize the role, priorities, and actions of the World Bank. The report also misrepresents the nature of the World.”
The letter said the Bank’s working relationship with the LSMFP Project Implementation Unit (PIU) refers to reallocations under the Project for which no formal requests have been received. “The World Bank takes very seriously its obligation to ensure that Bank funds are used for clearly defined activities for the benefit of the Liberian people and to achieve Project Development,” the communication added.
Continuing, the communication further noted, “World Bank Task Teams maintains a rigorous approach to implementation support in compliance with Project Appraisal Documents, IDA guidelines, and fiduciary procedures.”
It explained that the LSMFP team has, “Consistently endeavored to provide cutting-edge technical expertise and, like all World Bank Teams, has worked closely with the Project Coordinator, PIU and relevant government leadership to support project implementation to the highest standards and by applicable World Bank policies and procedures.”
The World Bank said its policies and legal agreements are meant to ensure that project funds are used for the purposes intended.
“We conduct regular missions to monitor project implementation, assess progress against project development goals, and propose appropriate corrective actions, as needed,” it said.
The World Bank furthered that the LSMP’s performance ratings are accurately reflected in the publicly disclosed Implementation Status Report (ISR) of April 2024 and the June 2024 Aide Memoire and Management letter.
The letter added, “As discussed during our meeting, the Project Mid-Term Review (MTR), a standard stocktaking and progress assessment, is scheduled for October 2024. It will undertake a comprehensive review of the Project’s advancement and performance-including the issues identified during the last Supervision Mission-with a strong focus on beneficiaries’ reach and value for money.”
Concluding, the bank said, “Thank you again for the cordial and useful exchange on July 31st. We appreciate the opportunity to read the Progress Report and to share our reflections and concerns.”
