-As delegation arrives to strengthen Strategic Partnership
Liberia will shortly benefit from a US$24.67 budget financing grant from the World Bank, as a delegation from the Bank arrives in Liberia to strengthen strategic partnership.
A press release from the Bank says the Country Director for Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone of the World Bank, Dr. Henry Kerali arrived in Liberia on Wednesday at the head of a three-member delegation.
While in the country, Kerali will sign the Financing Agreement for the US$24.67 million grant with the Liberian government, covering the Fourth Poverty Reduction Support Development Policy Operation,
The delegation will hold discussions with the Government to identify new priorities of the Bank’s partnership for the next 5 to 6 years, which will be reflected in its new Country Partnership Framework.
Dr. Kerali and the World Bank delegation will also engage in discussions on the priorities of the new government.
Liberia’s new President George Manneh Weah said in his first State of the Nation address on Monday that the Liberian economy is broken and the government is broke.
The visiting World Bank delegation will also meet with development partners to strengthen coordination around key strategic direction of the new Government in Liberia.
The specific focus will be on Governance, Infrastructure Development, Business Environment, Education, Skills and Jobs for Youth.
Other members of the delegation are Errol Graham, Program Leader responsible for Macroeconomic Management, Governance, Trade and Competitiveness, and Financial sector; and Laura Kullenberg, Country Program Coordinator for Liberia.
In 2016 the World Bank said it had committed about US$360 million towards development and infrastructural projects in Liberia.
The Bank’s Country Manager on Liberia Larisa Leshchenko cited the 176.7 kilometer Monrovia to 15-Gate to Gbarnga Road project and others that have shown visible improvements through series of projects that are collectively managed as a program.