Finance Minister Champions Child Investment as UNICEF Reaffirms Support

Friday, July 4, 2025

The Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Hon. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan has reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to placing children at the centre of national development efforts under the new Government–UNICEF Country Programme (2026–2030). During a high-level courtesy meeting with Mr. Gilles Fagninou, UNICEF’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa Wednesday, Minister Ngafuan, emphasized that Liberia’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (2025–2029) is rooted in protecting and advancing child well-being. He underscored the Ministry’s focus on integrating child-specific priorities into national financial planning and highlighted the prioritization of initiatives such as the national school feeding program, which he described as critical to improving educational outcomes and child nutrition.

“Children are not just beneficiaries—they are central to our vision for a prosperous Liberia,” said Minister Ngafuan. In response, Mr. Fagninou praised Liberia’s pioneering leadership, noting that the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning is the first in the West and Central Africa region to explicitly embed child-focused policies within its national planning framework. He commended the inclusion of dedicated budget lines and disaggregated quarterly reporting, calling it a model for the region. Both leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to finalizing the 2026–2030 Country Programme and to building resilient, homegrown financing strategies that reduce donor reliance while ensuring the lasting impact for Liberia’s most vulnerable citizens. Also, in attendance during the courtesy visit was Deputy Minister for Fiscal Affairs Hon. Anthony G. Myers, Deputy Minister for Budget and Development Planning Hon. Tanneh G. Brunson and Assistant Minister for External Resources and Debt Management Hon. Alice Williams.