By Precious D. Freeman
Integrity Watch Liberia (IWL) and the Embassy of Ireland in Liberia have officially signed a €170,000 grant agreement to implement the project, “Strengthening Inclusive Governance and Natural Resource Accountability in Liberia.”
Speaking at the signing ceremony, held in Monrovia, the Executive Director of IWL, Harold M. Aidoo, described the initiative as a critical step toward enhancing transparency, accountability, and governance in Liberia’s natural resource sector.
“This partnership reflects a shared commitment between Integrity Watch Liberia and Irish Aid to address critical governance challenges and foster sustainable development in Liberia,” Aidoo stated.
He outlined the project’s objectives, which include enhancing the Legislature’s capacity to scrutinize policies and agreements related to natural resources.
Supporting civil society advocacy for transparent and accountable resource governance.
Strengthening oversight functions of regulatory bodies to ensure compliance with established policies.
Promoting inclusive decision-making by engaging marginalized groups, including women and youth, in governance processes.
Target beneficiaries include lawmakers, and regulatory institutions such as the Ministry of Lands, Mines, and Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Bureau of Concessions. Community leaders, civil society actors, and local communities affected by resource management decisions will also benefit.
“The project will create spaces for dialogue and engagement, empowering citizens to hold decision-makers accountable,” Aidoo added.
He emphasized the timeliness of the initiative, particularly as Liberia implements its new five-year development framework, the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, which requires $7.6 billion in financing.
“Even with the $5 billion we can raise over the next five years, there’s still a $3 billion gap. Programs like this help us address such challenges, enabling us to negotiate better concessions, ensure tax compliance, and strengthen governance within the Natural Resource Center,” Aidoo explained.
Ambassador Gérard Considine reaffirmed Ireland’s dedication to governance and development in Liberia.
“This is part of our second five-year strategy in Liberia since establishing the embassy in 2018. Governance is a pillar of Ireland’s work across all countries, including Liberia,” he said.
The Ambassador highlighted Ireland’s focus on addressing gaps not covered by other donors.
He noted that organizations like Naymote and the Governance Consortium CENTAL would play a pivotal role in fostering accountability and enabling citizens to access information on resource and budget utilization.
“This project is also aligned with Liberia’s efforts to ensure that revenues from its natural resources are managed effectively and equitably. It’s about making sure the Liberian people benefit directly from their country’s wealth,” he added.
Ambassador Considine emphasized Ireland’s support for institutional strengthening, stating, “Institution-building is vital, and we believe this initiative will significantly contribute to Liberia’s sustainable development goals.”
The one-year project is expected to enhance Liberia’s natural resource governance framework, ensuring that resources are managed for the benefit of all Liberians while addressing critical financing gaps.
