Breakfast with the UN- UN and Media Managers discuss One UN's work in Liberia

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Liberia, Ms. Christine N. Umutoni, hosted a productive breakfast meeting with distinguished media editors, facilitated by the UN communications group.  The purpose of the meeting was to shed light on the UN's work in the country, its commitment to supporting Liberia's journey towards sustainable peace and socio-economic development towards Liberia’s transformation. The discussion centered around a range of key topics, highlighting the UN's significant role since the UN reform.  The meeting further clarified that since the departure of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) in 2018, the country was declared peaceful and among nations that are on the road to development hence the UN presence was reconfigured into the UNCT that focuses on development.  

The UN family in Liberia (UNCT) is made up of 21 UN Agencies, Funds, and Programmes, actively dedicated to supporting the country's national plan for progress and prosperity. The UN's structure is now designed to support the Liberian government’s efforts effectively and efficiently to sustain the peace and ensure progress towards economic development.  The One United Nations is led by the UN Resident Coordinator and is made up of an empowered unified United Nations Country team (UNCT).

Discussions also covered the UN Reform in Liberia, which has aimed to streamline and enhance coordination among UN entities in the country, promoting synergies and maximizing impact. Working as one coherent unit, the UN system continues to align its activities with Liberia's national priorities, with special attention to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Africa Agenda 2063.

As Liberia prepares for the upcoming elections in 2023, the UN Resident Coordinator has applauded the country for leading and fully owning the elections process. She informed that the UN provides technical electoral support to national authorities, civil society, and other stakeholders.  

The meeting further informed that the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) forms a consolidated Cooperation Framework between the Government of Liberia and the UN. It is linked to the national development plan -the Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD). Ms. Christine N. Umutoni emphasized that the UN Cooperation Framework is aligned with the PAPD, ensuring a harmonized approach towards achieving common objectives. The UN work always comes to support national priorities, hence all the outcomes of the UNSDCF are aligned to PAPD pillars.

Throughout the discussion, the UN's ongoing efforts in various critical areas of work in Liberia were highlighted. These included support to   the COVID-19 pandemic response and recovery plans, the implementation of the Spotlight Initiative to combat violence against women and girls, empowering youth at risk, supporting electoral process, ensuring  community based work in all sectors including health initiatives like immunization coverage, and enhancing community health worker programs,  promoting school feeding programs, initiatives towards food security and livelihoods, youth and women empowerment, support to smart village initiative, among  others .

Furthermore, Ms. Christine N. Umutoni informed the meeting that the UN Country Team will establish a UN Hub in the South-east region in the effort to work close to communities. This will reinforce accelerated community development program (ACDP) promoting a wholistic approach to community development and the Smart Villages initiative, as well as other community -based interventions which demonstrates the UN's commitment to inclusivity and sustainable development across all regions of Liberia.

The breakfast meeting concluded with an optimistic outlook for Liberia's future, underscoring the UN's continued partnership with the country’s transformation as it strives for peace, prosperity, and sustainable development. The UN and partners will continue to support Liberia as the country concludes the current national development plan towards designing a new one. The drivers of development study will be a key tool to ensure Liberia focuses on those areas that accelerate development. The role of national institutions, the private sector, civil society organization as well as communities was emphasized, noting that country needs to generate domestic resources to drive development because aid is not enough.

The media and information is a key component of national development and engagement with the media to promote responsible citizenship for sustainable development.