The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) working along the Ministry of Local Government, Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) and integrity institutions including the Internal Audit Secretariat, Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC) has validated County Financial and Operational Manual. Final validation of the documents, which was done Thursday, March 26, followed numerous processes at the county level, bringing together several local authorities to partake in the formation of an instrument that is strictly intended for them.
The landmark document was validated under the theme: “Strengthening County Treasury Financial Management for Accountability, Transparency and Sustainable Development,” with the aim to enhance transparency and accountability in public financial management system at the county level. The Operational Manual, particularly, is a tool that will help county procurement officers to carry out procurement activities in smoothly and in a more convenient manner. Speaking at the validation, Anthony G. Myers, Deputy Minister for Fiscal Affairs at MFDP, said the crafting of the document is in consonance of government’s progressive move to operationalizing decentralization. Mr. Myers pointed out that these actions are part of the government's strategic shift toward decentralizing power and financial services across its 15 counties.
He emphasized that the current year is a pivotal period for action, moving beyond administrative planning to the physical establishment of regional treasuries. “By deploying specialized personnel such as auditors and budget officers to local service centers, the administration aims to streamline resource delivery and reduce reliance on central authority,” said Deputy Minister Myers, who pointed out the meaningful roles of key development partnerships such as international organizations like the UNDP. “UNDP and others are essential for providing the technical and financial support needed to fulfill these local development agendas. Ultimately, the successful implementation of this operational manual will be measured by the ability of county authorities to manage their own financial transactions independently.”
Madam Tanneh Brunson, Deputy Minister for Budget and Development Planning at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and Louis Kuukpen, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP, also hailed the importance of strengthening fiscal decentralization and governance in Liberia, emphasizing accountability, transparency and capacity building at the county level. Also speaking at the occasion, Deputy Minister Brunson acknowledged that some counties currently lack the necessary experience to fully manage decentralized financial responsibilities. Predicated upon this, she stressed the need for strong oversight to ensure the process benefits all citizens, describing it as practical and user-friendly.
Madam Brunson also called for closer collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government to enhance implementation. According to her, the initiative aims to safeguard public resources while enabling counties to responsibly manage their finances, ultimately improving service delivery and local development outcomes. For his part, Louis Kuukpen, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP, highlighted the extensive and consultative nature of the process, commending government authorities for their leadership. However, he noted that significant capacity gaps remain within county treasuries, stressing the need for comprehensive training programs, thus proposing the development of an extensive training manual to support county-to-county knowledge transfer.
Mr. Kuukpen asserted that the decentralization is critical to national development, stating that meaningful progress cannot be achieved without it. He reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to supporting the process and urged that County Development Agendas be adequately aligned with financial planning to ensure effective implementation. The validation of the document marked a significant step toward empowering local governments, promoting accountability and advancing inclusive development across Liberia.
Author: Emmanuel Weedee-Conway
