By: Julius Konton
The Government of Liberia has officially commenced a five-day high-level technical planning session aimed at strengthening climate-smart development, accelerating renewable energy investments, and shaping the country’s environmental priorities for the 2027 National Budget.
The Energy and Environment Sector Working Group (SWG), operating under Pillar Five (Environmental Sustainability) of the Government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), convened in Monrovia as ministries, agencies, development partners, and technical experts began deliberations designed to integrate climate resilience and sustainable energy into Liberia’s national development agenda.
The exercise is being coordinated by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) and hosted by the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), which serves as the lead institution for Pillar Five of the AAID.
The five-day working session brings together key public institutions and international development partners, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA), the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC), the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC), the Paynesville City Corporation (PCC), the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL), the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC), the Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA), and the Forestry Development Authority (FDA).
The discussions are expected to establish strategic investment priorities, improve institutional coordination, strengthen public sector budgeting processes, and develop practical policy interventions that will guide government spending in the energy and environmental sectors during the 2027 fiscal year.
Opening the technical sessions on behalf of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Deputy Minister for Administration Eudora Blay-Pritchard, represented by R. Matenokay Tingban, underscored the importance of collaboration in addressing Liberia’s growing environmental and energy challenges.
She praised participating institutions for assigning experienced technical personnel to the exercise, describing the Sector Working Group as one of the government’s most important platforms for coordinated national planning.
According to Deputy Minister Blay-Pritchard, effective collaboration, transparency, knowledge sharing, and commitment among participating institutions will be essential to producing tangible outcomes capable of advancing Liberia’s sustainable development ambitions.
She encouraged participants to approach the discussions with innovation and a shared commitment to delivering practical solutions that improve the lives of Liberians while protecting the country’s natural resources.
Throughout the five-day exercise, experts will review budget templates developed by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, identify sector priorities, assess financing opportunities, evaluate institutional and policy frameworks, and formulate implementation strategies for climate-smart projects.
The sessions are expected to produce investment proposals that promote:
Renewable and clean energy development;
Climate adaptation and mitigation initiatives;
Environmental conservation and sustainable natural resource management;
Improved access to electricity, particularly in rural communities;
Green economic growth and job creation; and
Stronger institutional coordination across government.
The proposed interventions are expected to align with the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, Liberia’s international climate commitments, including the Paris Agreement, and the country’s broader sustainable development objectives under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Liberia continues to face significant energy and environmental challenges despite notable progress over recent years.
According to official government and development partner data, national electricity access has increased from approximately 33 percent in 2024 to about 39 percent, reflecting ongoing investments in power generation, transmission, and rural electrification.
Nevertheless, a substantial proportion of Liberia’s population particularly in rural communities still lacks reliable access to electricity, making renewable energy expansion a national priority.
The government has also accelerated investments in solar energy, hydropower, rural electrification, and climate resilience through partnerships with international institutions, including the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), European Union, UNDP, and other bilateral development partners.
Liberia is among the countries considered highly vulnerable to climate change, with increasing risks from coastal erosion, flooding, changing rainfall patterns, and deforestation affecting agriculture, infrastructure, biodiversity, and livelihoods.
Experts estimate that climate-related shocks could significantly impact economic growth if adaptation measures and sustainable investments are not accelerated.
At the conclusion of the technical sessions, the Energy and Environment Sector Working Group is expected to deliver a comprehensive roadmap outlining priority investments, institutional responsibilities, financing options, and policy recommendations that will inform the preparation of Liberia’s 2027 National Budget.
The roadmap is also expected to strengthen coordination among participating institutions while promoting greater efficiency in public investment and climate financing.
Officials say the exercise represents a significant milestone in Liberia’s efforts to build a climate-resilient economy, improve environmental governance, expand access to clean energy, and position sustainable development at the center of national economic planning.
As Liberia pursues the objectives of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, policymakers believe stronger coordination between government institutions and development partners will be critical to unlocking green investments, enhancing environmental protection, and ensuring long-term economic resilience for future generations.
