Monrovia, Liberia— The World Bank Group Executive Director for Liberia, Mr. Zarau Wendeline Kibwe, on Tuesday held a meeting with the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Hon. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, along with other senior government officials.
The Executive Director’s mission is focused on assessing the development impact of World Bank-supported projects on the livelihoods of ordinary Liberians, identifying implementation challenges, and exploring prospects for additional investments aligned with Liberia’s national development agenda- particularly in the context of global geopolitical tensions and macroeconomic headwinds.
Speaking at the start of the visit, Minister Ngafuan emphasized the importance and timeliness of the visit, noting that Liberia continues to face external economic shocks and fiscal pressures amid a challenging global environment.
He reaffirmed the government’s strong commitment to its partnership with the World Bank, describing it as a cornerstone of Liberia’s development agenda.
“Our partnership with the World Bank remains strong and impactful,” Minister Ngafuan stated, highlighting the institution’s consistent support in helping Liberia navigate periods of economic uncertainty and maintain resilience.
A significant portion of the discussions centered on assessing the performance of the country’s World Bank-funded project portfolio. Participants reviewed progress made, while also acknowledging persistent implementation challenges, including delays and bottlenecks affecting disbursement rates.
Minister Ngafuan disclosed that the government is preparing to undertake a comprehensive portfolio review aimed at improving efficiency, accelerating project execution, and ensuring more effective use of resources.
He noted that particular attention will be given to priority sectors such as infrastructure, public works, and water service delivery.
Despite the challenges, the Minister pointed to encouraging gains in recent months. He highlighted improved implementation rates, increased disbursement levels, and a growing pipeline of new projects. According to him, these efforts are already yielding tangible results, including enhanced road connectivity and expanded access to essential services for communities across Liberia.
For his part, Executive Director Kibwe indicated that his visit is intended to deepen engagement with Liberian authorities and gain a clearer understanding of the country’s evolving development priorities. He reaffirmed that Liberia remains an important partner and shareholder within the World Bank.
Director Kibwe commended the Liberian government for maintaining relative macroeconomic stability despite global economic pressures. He observed that Liberia’s performance compares favorably with several countries in the region, reflecting prudent economic management and resilience.
However, he stressed the importance of sustaining key reforms aimed at improving the business climate, attracting investment, and creating jobs. These areas, he noted, remain central to the World Bank’s support framework in Liberia.
The meeting brought together the World Bank Country Manager for Liberia, Georgia Wallen, the Senior Advisor to the Executive Director, Dr. Plingloh Emmanuel Munyeneh, Central Bank Governor Henry Saamoi, Minister of Public Works Roland Giddings, Forestry Development Authority Managing Director Rudolph J. Merab, Sr., amongst others.
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