Gov’t, World Bank US$30M ‘GREAT Project’ To Target 2M Liberians

The Government of Liberia along with the World Bank has launched a new model in governance styled “Government Reform and Accountability Transformation (GREAT)” targeting two million Liberians.
The project, worth US$30 million under the World Bank IDA Credit will also benefit citizens by gaining improved digital access to essential government services, as well as enhancing access to public services, tax collection and government transparency and accountability.
The project highlights key project components and Investments with component 1 getting US$13 million for enhancing public services including expanding digital services delivery via e-Liberia Portal, upgrading ICT infrastructure in County Service Centers (CSCs), as well as strengthening National Identification Registry (NIR) targeting 2 million Liberians.
Component 2 which looks at increasing Tax revenue under the GREAT Project is allotted US$6.4 million to support Value-Added Tax (VAT) implementation, while component 3, focusing on strengthening Accountability will be implemented with a funding of US$7.6 million with component 4 which targets implementation and capacity building is given US$3 million.
The project model, which shows that the project matters in Liberia, is affecting nine ministries and agencies including Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), General Auditing Commission (GSA) to improve governance in improving access to public service, enhancing revenue generation, fight corruption and promoting transparency.
Finance and Development Planning Minister, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan stressed the urgent need to reprogram and redirect certain projects that are not yielding the desired returns, particularly in light of the recent reduction in USAID aid.
Reiterating that discussions will soon be held with partners to reallocate resources to critical sectors impacted by the aid reduction, Ngafuan said, “We are facing a significant shock due to the USAID aid cut, and immediate measures are being taken to mitigate its impact.”
He acknowledged the situation, noting that hard conversations are underway across the government to address the ongoing challenges, and noted, “Many Liberians have lost their jobs, interventions to vital sectors have been reduced, and it is essential for us to implement critical measures.”
Ngafuan further revealed that the government, alongside its partners, will convene in April for a roundtable discussion to address the emerging challenges and explore solutions that ensure the uninterrupted implementation of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.
The Minister reassured Liberians that the government remains committed to delivering on its agenda, which was launched in January this year, thus describing the launch of the GREAT Project as a “significant opportunity” for Liberia’s continued progress.
He added that the project would focus on expanding digital public services, increasing tax revenues, strengthening accountability and transparency, and enhancing capacity building and implementation support.
World Bank Acting Country Manager, Oyewole Afuye thanked the government for the successful launch of the GREAT project which is expected to “leverage digital solutions and deepen institutional reforms to modernize the public administration and improve government efficiency, ultimately benefiting all Liberians.”
Afuye further indicated that the six year project will support the government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development in achieving great transparency, accountability, and efficiency.
He also outlined that the project will address three key challenges- a weak system for delivering administrative services due to low state presence and infrastructure constraints across the country, a strained fiscal outlook due to low domestic resource mobilization and limited accountability for managing public resources with uneven service delivery results.
The World Bank Acting Country Manager then called on all ministries, agencies and commissions and development partners to support the delivery of the project and help to sustain policy dialogue on the reforms.