United Nations Reaffirms Commitment to Supporting Liberia’s Digital Future Through Innovation and Partnerships

– The United Nations system has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Liberia’s digital transformation agenda, partnering with the Government of Liberia and national stakeholders to harness technology as a driver of inclusive development, good governance, and sustainable economic growth. This commitment was highlighted during the Liberia Tech Summit 2026, held at the EJS Ministerial Complex under the theme*“Government Digital Transformation: Building a Smarter Liberia.”* The Summit brought together government leaders, development partners, private sector actors, innovators, academia, entrepreneurs, and young technology leaders to advance a shared vision for a digitally empowered Liberia. 

Delivering the keynote address, His Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. emphasized that digital transformation is no longer an option, but a necessity for effective governance, transparency, economic competitiveness, job creation, and national development. The President announced July 21 as Liberia’s official Technology Day and underscored the importance of strong partnerships in driving innovation and building a modern, citizen-centered government that leverages technology to improve service delivery and expand opportunities for all Liberians. 

The Summit highlighted the growing momentum behind Liberia’s efforts to build a resilient digital ecosystem capable of accelerating progress across the Sustainable Development Goals. As a strategic partner of the Government of Liberia, UNDP showcased its ongoing support to strengthening national digital capacities, fostering innovation, expanding digital skills, and advancing digital public infrastructure as key enablers of sustainable development. 

Speaking during the opening ceremony, UNDP Resident Representative Aliou Mamadou Dia stressed that digital transformation is ultimately about people and opportunity.

“Liberia’s greatest resource is the intelligence, imagination, and ambition of its young people,” Dia stated. “Investments in skills such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, coding, data science, entrepreneurship, and innovation will determine the country’s long-term competitiveness and prosperity.” 

Dia further noted that technology should serve as a catalyst for empowering young Liberians, creating jobs, stimulating entrepreneurship, and enabling the country to become a producer of solutions and innovation within the global digital economy. 

Among the initiatives highlighted during the Summit were the UNIPOD Innovation and Digital Hub, partnerships with the University of Liberia to strengthen programmes in Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity, collaboration with Orange Liberia to expand digital skills development, and continued support to entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems. These efforts are helping equip young Liberians with the knowledge and opportunities needed to participate meaningfully in an increasingly digital world. 

The event also showcased the transformative impact of investing in education and innovation. Participants heard the inspiring story of Hellen Momo, now employed by the Central Bank of Liberia, whose educational journey to Harvard University was supported by President Boakai before his election to office. Her subsequent development of an artificial intelligence-powered banking system currently utilized by the Central Bank illustrates the potential of Liberia’s young innovators to contribute to national development and regional technological advancement. 

The United Nations welcomed the Government’s continued leadership in advancing digital transformation, particularly through Executive Order No. 163, which established the Office of Technology, Digitalization and Innovation (OTDI) as the central coordinating authority for government-wide digital transformation. Dia described the establishment of OTDI as an important milestone toward building more efficient, transparent, and technology-enabled public institutions. 

Through support to artificial intelligence for government, GovTech solutions, and Digital Public Infrastructure, UNDP continues to work alongside national institutions to strengthen digital governance, improve public service delivery, enhance citizen engagement, and modernize public administration. The organization reaffirmed its readiness to deepen collaboration with the Government of Liberia, development partners, the private sector, academia, and civil society to accelerate the country’s digital transformation journey. 

The Liberia Tech Summit 2026 demonstrated the increasing role of innovation as a catalyst for sustainable development and economic transformation. Discussions explored opportunities to strengthen digital infrastructure, expand entrepreneurship, improve cybersecurity, and promote technology-enabled public services. Participants reaffirmed a shared commitment to ensuring that technology becomes a force for inclusion, resilience, and sustainable development for all Liberians.