United Nations in Liberia Pledges to work more downstream to benefit all Liberians

 “Mr. President, in this very place on the same day last year you challenged the UN in Liberia. You asked the UN to deliver more, and more widely, to support the people of Liberia. We listened to you very carefully and we responded. I am very pleased to note that, as part of our response, we will be inaugurating a little later today a Presidential Program supported by the United Nations which will accelerate community development in some of the less developed areas of Liberia,” Niels Scott, UN Resident Coordinator, stated.

The UN Resident Coordinator was speaking about the Accelerated Community Development Programme (ACDP), which is designed to meet the felt needs of people living in poverty by improving access to water and sanitation; clean affordable energy; building and repairing rural feeder roads, health clinics, schools and vocational training centers, market facilities, irrigation systems, as well as provide agricultural tools and equipment to farmers to help increase food production. The programme is intended to generate short- and long-term jobs for local workers, who will then be contracted in construction and rehabilitation projects. Communities are expected to make in-kind contributions to the projects to demonstrate ownership.

The statement formed a part of remarks commemorating the 77th UN Day celebrations in Monrovia on October 24th, 2022.  Mr. Scott further noted that the United Nations in Liberia will work hand in hand with many valued partners including the County Superintendents and support local impact by establishing regional programming hubs to reinforce its already considerable implementation across Liberia. 

He also highlighted the topics of peace and stability, which he said was quite "dear to our hearts", further noting that the United Nations was founded 77 years ago today to promote peace, enable development and encourage respect of each and every human right. Mr. Scott lauded the much-appreciated role Liberia continues to play in exporting peace by contributing to United Nations, particularly the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali. 

The President of Liberia, His Excellency, George Manneh Weah, also speaking at the 77th UN Day celebrations, stated that the ACDP, a Special Flagship Program under the Office of the President, would be implemented for the benefit of all Liberians. He explained that the Accelerated Community Development Program will be operated under the direction of a National Steering Committee, chaired by him, with membership comprised of various Ministries and Agencies, Civil Society Organizations, and International Partners, adding, “this program will be implemented in a manner that is transparent and that has the full ownership and involvement of the respective communities. At the end of the day, I want the ACDP to produce real concrete and tangible improvements in the lives of our Liberian citizens.” 

The Liberian President emphasized the critical role peace plays in galvanizing the people of Liberia to contribute their collective quota towards the realization of national development. “As I have said on many occasions, without peace, there can be no sustainable development.  This is more than a mere observation. It is in fact my firm conviction.  And because of this, I have dedicated every effort since my incumbency to ensure that peace prevails in Liberia, our native land,” President Weah continued. He said that a successful peace agenda must always consist of three distinct phases, namely, achieving the peace, consolidating the peace and sustaining the peace.

The UN day commemoration climaxed with a county exhibition from the UN in Liberia which highlighted the work of UN agencies in the 15 counties of Liberia. The President and First Lady, members of the Diplomatic Corps, Government officials and guests were guided through colorful stalls with county superintendents and beneficiaries highlighting the achievements and impact of the United Nations work in their respective counties.