Monrovia – The Liberian government has officially launched a $30 million World Bank-funded initiative, Governance Reform and Accountability Transformation (Amazing) Project, through the Ministry of Financial Development Planning (MFDP), aimed at improving access to public services, strengthening tax revenue collection and improving government transparency.
Funded under the World Bank’s ID Credit Program, the project was officially launched on Thursday, March 20, 2025 by Minister of Finance and Development Planning Augustine Kupee Ngahuan at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in the Town of Congo. It is expected to be completed by November 30th, 2030.
Strengthening of major government agencies
Minister Ngafuan has revealed that the project will affect nine major government agencies, including the Civil Service Agency (CSA), the Liberian Revenue Agency (LRA), the General Audit Committee (GAC), the National Identification Register (NIR), and Ministry of Finance, Commercial, Industry, Education and Health.
He emphasized that the initiative will provide citizens with improved digital access to critical government services, streamline corporate tax and procurement processes, and enhance government efficiency, accountability and service delivery.
Additionally, the project will support the expansion of digital public services, the deployment of improved national identification systems, and the integration of government platforms through shared digital infrastructure in national data centers.
Project Components and Investment Breakdown
Minister Ngafuan outlined the core components of the project and the respective funding allocations.
Component 1: Enhanced public services ($13 million) Component 2: Increased tax revenue ($6.4 million) Component 3: Enhanced accountability ($7.6 million) Component 4: Implementation and capacity building ($3 million)
The initiative includes the introduction of a profitable value-added tax (VAT) system, expanding property tax collection, and capacity-building programs to ensure long-term sustainability for capacity-building programs for civil servants.
The Ministry of Financial Development Planning oversees the project with support from a Project Implementation Team (PIT) made up of civil servants and technical experts. The pit will be responsible for monitoring progress, strengthening institutional capacity and ensuring knowledge transfer to government officials.
A model of sustainable reform
Unlike traditional donor-funded initiatives, great projects focus on long-term sustainability by highlighting government ownership of reform through civil service-led implementation and change management strategies. The project also offers the flexibility to expand its scope to include additional institutions and reform activities as needed.
The World Bank praises Liberia’s commitment
Oyewole Afuye, country manager at the World Bank of Liberia, congratulated the government on the successful launch of the project, highlighting its strong ownership and joint approach.
“I acknowledge the sustainable efforts, strong ownership and cooperation from the Liberian government that helped to promote preparation for the project and guide it to a strong start,” Afuye said.
He emphasized that the six-year project is consistent with Liberian arrest agenda to promote inclusive development, transparency, accountability and efficiency of public institutions. He added that it will accelerate efforts to restructure and transform major government agencies, particularly while delivering tangible benefits to citizens in remote areas.
Afuye noted that the initiative aims to address three major governance challenges:
Weak management services provided due to low state presence and infrastructure constraints. Tensing financial outlook caused by low domestic revenue mobilization. Accountability in managing public resources is limited, resulting in uneven service delivery.
“While inadequate revenues undermines the state’s ability to provide services, tax collection remains a challenge in a less accountable environment,” he said. “These interconnected challenges need to be addressed simultaneously.”
World Bank executives expressed enthusiasm for an innovative implementation model for projects that prioritize civil servant-led implementation. He emphasized that this approach (new to the World Bank portfolio in Liberia) will strengthen institutional ownership, strengthen government capacity, and develop reform-led civil servant executives to promote the long-term development of Liberia.
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Calling for collaboration
Afuye called on all ministries, agencies, committees and development partners to actively support the project and maintain dialogue on governance reform. He reaffirmed the World Bank’s commitment to providing technical and financial support to ensure the success of the initiative.
CSA praises the initiative
Public Service Director Josiah F. Joekai Jr. described the project as a timely intervention consistent with the government’s arrest agenda for comprehensive development.
“We are not just participants in this initiative, we play an important role in implementing and enforcing these reforms,” Jokai thanked the government and the World Bank for enhancing the central role of the CSA in implementing the project.
