Recently, the World Bank Group (WBG) and the Government of Liberia launched a new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) designed to support Liberia’s development priorities over the next five years, with a strong focus on creating more and better jobs. The launch took place on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Oldest Congo Town, Monrovia. The event brought together senior government officials, World Bank executives, development partners, private sector actors, civil society organizations, youth representatives, and other stakeholders.
The CPF outlines four essential outcome areas that will anchor WBG interventions in Liberia: improving education and reducing learning poverty, expanding access to reliable energy, strengthening accountable and transparent governance, and increasing private investment with emphasis on agroindustry and sustainable forest economies. Together, these priorities aim to build a solid foundation for job creation the central pillar of the framework. Speaking at the launch, International Finance Corporation (IFC) Division Director for the Gulf of Guinea Cluster, Ms. Nathalie Kouassi Akon, described the unveiling of the CPF as “a signal that Liberia is ready to transform its potential into progress, to turn national aspiration into tangible impact for its people.”
She emphasized that the framework is designed to address Liberia’s most pressing development needs, including expanding economic opportunities, strengthening governance systems, building resilience, and boosting investment in high-impact sectors. Madam Akon highlighted job creation as the unifying driver of the CPF. “Jobs change lives; jobs build dignity; jobs stabilize societies; and jobs are how countries turn growth into opportunity,” she stated, underscoring the IFC’s commitment to supporting Liberia’s economic transformation through sustainable private sector development.
World Bank Liberia Country Manager Georgia Wallen further elaborated on the objectives of the new CPF, noting that all interventions under the framework are aligned with the Government of Liberia’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), the national plan aimed at steering the country toward Vision 2030. She explained that the WBG’s partnership with Liberia over the next five years will be built entirely around job creation and the systems that support employment. Wallen outlined three key elements of the CPF. First is the unified focus on job creation as the path to ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity.
Second is scaling results in four main areas critical to job creation: reducing learning poverty, expanding energy access, enhancing transparency and accountability, and increasing sustainable private investment. She noted that resilience—climate, fiscal, and social will be integrated into all WBG-supported programs. The third element emphasizes strategic partnerships, stressing that successful implementation of the CPF will require strong collaboration between the government, development partners, the private sector, youth, and academia. Delivering remarks on behalf of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Senior Presidential Advisor Dr. Augustine Konneh praised the World Bank’s long-standing partnership with Liberia.
He described the CPF as a model of the kind of collaboration the government seeks—one that respects national priorities and supports the aspirations of Liberians. “You have been a cornerstone in our economic recovery effort, and your support continues to empower our government to make progress where progress was once impossible,” Dr. Konneh said. Finance and Development Planning Minister Hon. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan welcomed the launch, noting that the next five years will be crucial for achieving Liberia’s 2030 goals. He emphasized that the CPF will help the country accelerate progress by reinforcing efficiency, accountability, and institutional strength.
“The challenges we face—post-conflict recovery, economic shocks, and climate risks require a partnership that combines financing with stronger institutions, better systems, and empowered communities,” Minister Ngafuan added. The CPF emphasizes the “One WBG” approach, which leverages collaboration among WBG institutions—IDA, IBRD, IFC, and MIGA to deliver coordinated and impactful development support. It aligns with key corporate initiatives such as Mission 300 and the WBG agribusiness scale-up program, both intended to mobilize private financing and strengthen Liberia’s productive sectors.
A significant feature of the CPF is its intent to help Liberia move away from a heavily state-driven, concession-based economic model toward one driven by private-sector dynamism. This includes major investments in foundational learning, digital services, women’s economic empowerment, youth skills development, and initiatives to boost entrepreneurship and SME growth.
The framework also underscores the importance of sustainable forestry and agroindustry as engines of rural employment and economic diversification. The principles guiding the new CPF are closely aligned with the World Bank’s mission to end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity on a livable planet. Developed through extensive consultations with government officials, private sector leaders, civil society groups, academia, and international partners, the framework reflects collective priorities and a shared vision for Liberia’s development trajectory.
With the launch of the new CPF, the World Bank Group and the Government of Liberia reaffirm their commitment to working together to strengthen institutions, expand economic opportunities, and deliver a more resilient and prosperous future for all Liberians.
Author: Zac T. Sherman
