By Precious D. Freeman
The French Development Agency (AFD) has provided an €8 million grant to fund two complementary health projects aimed at strengthening Liberia’s healthcare system.
These initiatives, the Better Health Outcomes for Liberians (BEHOL) project, implemented by Action Against Hunger (ACF), and the Harnessing Effective Approaches on Leadership, Coordination, and Training (HEALTH) project, led by Expertise France (EF), will operate in collaboration with the Liberian Ministry of Health over a three-year period.
The official launch event, held in Monrovia, was attended by government officials, representatives of the French government, health sector stakeholders, and development partners.
The initiative is aligned with Liberia’s National Health Policy 2022-2031 and focuses on improving healthcare delivery in Montserrado, Nimba, and Margibi counties.
The BEHOL and HEALTH projects aim to enhance the quality of healthcare services, with a particular focus on reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH), family planning, nutrition, and mental health services.
They also seek to reinforce MoH leadership, coordination, and oversight at national and local levels while improving access to healthcare services.
The launch event featured a keynote address by the French Ambassador to Liberia, Isabelle Le Guellec, who reaffirmed France’s commitment to universal health coverage (UHC), health system strengthening, and disease prevention.
She emphasized that France has invested significantly in Liberia’s health sector, including contributions to The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi), and innovative health initiatives such as cognitive-behavioral therapy projects and mental health programs.
“France is deeply committed to supporting Liberia’s efforts in advancing mental health and overall well-being, with a particular focus on youth, women, and girls,” said Ambassador Le Guellec.
“The programs launched today prioritize reproductive health and maternal care, key pillars of France’s global health strategy.”
Liberia’s Deputy Minister for Children and Social Protection, Garmai S. Tokpah, described the projects as a “critical step” toward improving Liberia’s healthcare system.
“A stronger health system means a stronger Liberia—where children grow up healthier, families thrive, and communities are empowered,” Tokpah stated.
She pledged the government’s full support and thanked the French government and implementing partners for their investment in Liberia’s health sector.
Assistant Minister for Policy and Planning at the Ministry of Health, George P. Jacobs, outlined the expected impact of the BEHOL project, which includes: improving quality of care at 25 targeted public health facilities across Montserrado, Nimba, and Margibi.
Training healthcare workers and enhancing infection prevention and control (IPC) measures.
Promoting sexual and reproductive health rights and supporting community health workers.
Strengthening MoH ownership and data management to improve health emergency response plans.
The initiative aims to directly benefit over 51,000 women of reproductive age, 11,000 pregnant women, 37,000 children under five, and 42,000 adolescents.
The projects align with Liberia’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, which prioritizes health system transformation through increased community pharmacy coverage, expansion of primary healthcare services, and improved epidemic preparedness.
As the projects move forward, Liberia and its partners remain committed to ensuring sustainable improvements in healthcare access and delivery, ultimately advancing the nation’s goal of achieving universal health coverage and improving the well-being of all Liberians.