Development Partners Pledge Stronger Support for ARREST Agenda

By Lewis S. Teh

MONROVIA, Liberia, August 13, 2026 — Liberia’s development partners have pledged to deepen coordination with the government to accelerate implementation of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), while calling for stronger dialogue, improved monitoring and more effective use of limited resources.

French Ambassador Isabelle Le Guellec, Chair of the Cooperating Partner Group (CPG), said development partners remain committed to supporting the government in delivering its national development priorities.

She spoke Tuesday during the National Steering Committee meeting on the AAID at Monrovia City Hall.

Le Guellec said the CPG meets on the last Thursday of every month to improve coordination among development partners and ensure that their programs are aligned with the AAID.

She said technical groups also meet regularly to coordinate interventions in health, forestry, education, technical and vocational education and training, private-sector development, gender and agriculture.

“There is an explicit need for enhanced and strategic coordination with the Government of Liberia to ensure that interventions are complementary and to optimize resource allocation and results delivery,” Le Guellec said.

She called for clearer and better-documented coordination mechanisms and more frequent joint meetings involving the National Steering Committee, National Coordination Committee and Technical Committee.

“Development partners kindly ask for the means to support efficiently the Government of Liberia with a frequent and open dialogue, systematically followed up,” she said.

Partners Propose Stronger Monitoring

Le Guellec outlined several measures development partners believe could improve implementation of the AAID.

She called for a review of the Liberia Dashboard to determine whether it adequately tracks implementation and how development partners could assist the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning in strengthening the system.

She also proposed systematic annual portfolio reviews with individual development partners to provide the government with a clearer picture of development interventions across the country.

Le Guellec further recommended establishing annual implementation targets rather than focusing primarily on the AAID’s 2029 objectives. She said annual targets would make it easier to measure progress and adjust strategies when necessary.

The French Ambassador meanwhile commended the government for its AAID Year One Implementation Report and draft reports covering the first and second quarters of 2026.

She pointed to macroeconomic results observed by the International Monetary Fund during its fourth review under the Extended Credit Facility and the mobilization of the first year of European Union budget support as indications of progress.

“The results are really very impressive. They demonstrate the government’s determination to see the 2030 vision fulfilled,” she said.

Financing Remains Challenge

Le Guellec acknowledged that financing remains a major challenge to implementing Liberia’s development agenda, particularly as international development assistance declines.

She warned that external aid is unlikely to increase significantly during the AAID implementation period, requiring Liberia to place greater emphasis on mobilizing domestic resources.

“This may also be an opportunity,” she said. “Mobilization of domestic resources and ownership place developing countries at the heart of the definition and implementation of their policies.”

According to Le Guellec, development partners are prepared to help Liberia maximize available external resources while ensuring that funding is used effectively.

She encouraged the government to sustain its domestic resource mobilization efforts and continue combating corruption.

Le Guellec said development partners also stand ready to help Liberia unlock additional financing through co-financing arrangements, private-sector development, improved investment attractiveness and reforms to strengthen the business climate.

Push for Next Phase

The Ambassador called for dates to be agreed in the coming days for meetings of the National Coordination Committee and Technical Committee, with participation from civil society, the private sector and diaspora.

She also proposed a strategic retreat involving development partners to review priorities and strengthen coordination.

“These dialogue forums will enable all stakeholders involved in implementing Liberia’s AAID to discuss and support the Liberian government’s effort to define, realign and finalize its priorities for the 2026-2027 period and accelerate AAID’s implementation and delivery,” Le Guellec said.

The Cooperating Partner Group brings together Liberia’s development partners to coordinate assistance and align interventions with the government’s national development priorities.