The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Government of Liberia and development partners are working on a new approach aimed at making the country’s development efforts more coordinated, practical and capable of producing long-term results.

The initiative emerged from a collaborative workshop that brought together representatives from government institutions, civil society, development organizations and other stakeholders. Rather than relying on development plans created by a small group and later presented for approval, participants emphasized a broader co-creation model in which different stakeholders can contribute from the beginning.

Moving Beyond Fragmented Projects

One of the central themes was the need to move away from isolated projects toward larger programmes that connect different areas of development.

Participants examined opportunities involving sustainable livelihoods, education, economic development, social progress, as well as the green and blue economies. The objective is to identify initiatives that can be expanded and coordinated instead of operating separately.

UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Louis Kuukpen stressed that development priorities should remain closely connected to Liberia’s national planning frameworks while improving coordination between government agencies and development partners.

Identifying Gaps and Opportunities

The new process will review existing programmes to determine which approaches are producing positive results, where important gaps remain and which successful initiatives could potentially be expanded.

The assessment is also expected to identify areas where additional technical assistance or stronger cooperation may be required.

Stakeholders believe that bringing government institutions, communities, civil society, development organizations and the private sector into the process can help create a framework that better reflects Liberia’s actual needs.

From Discussion to Implementation

The initiative is now moving toward a series of practical steps. These include completing a gap analysis, preparing a draft development framework, gathering feedback from stakeholders and eventually holding a validation workshop.

The participants also agreed that engagement should continue throughout the process so that the final framework reflects a broad range of perspectives.

The initiative comes as UNDP continues its wider work in Liberia focused on inclusive economic opportunities, stronger institutions and climate-resilient development. Its 2026–2030 country programme places particular emphasis on human capital, governance, and economic and environmental sustainability.

The latest effort signals a shift toward a more collaborative development model, with the goal of turning separate interventions into coordinated programmes that can deliver lasting benefits for communities across Liberia.