The World Bank says it takes very seriously its obligation to ensure that Bank funds are used for clearly defined activities for the benefit of the people and communities it serves.
The bank’s official statement was issued a day after media outlets published a leaked letter from the World Bank Country Office in Liberia raising concerns about accountability of funds at Liberia Fisheries Authority.
The letter dated August 16, 2024 raises issues of lack of accountability and “value for money” for a major fisheries project, the Liberia Sustainable Management of Fisheries Project (LSMFP) which the Bank said is intended to benefit the ordinary fisherfolks and fish mongers; something that has reportedly not been seen in the project progress report.
“This letter serves as a formal expression of our concern with the report’s content. The document contains factual inaccuracies and weighty allegations that fundamentally mischaracterize the role, priorities, and actions of the World Bank. The report also misrepresents the nature of the World Bank’s working relationship with the LSMFP Project Implementation Unit (PIU) and refers to reallocations under the Project for which no formal requests have been received,” says the letter from the head of the Bank’s County office in Liberia.
The letter raises issues of lack of accountability and “value for money” for a major fisheries project in Liberia that was intended to benefit the ordinary fisherfolks and fish mongers, something that has reportedly not been seen in the project progress report.
According to the letter; “The World Bank takes very seriously its obligation to ensure that Bank funds are used for clearly defined activities for the benefit of the Liberian people and to achieve Project Development Objectives.”
But reacting to the leaked letter addressed to the National Aquaculture Authority’s (NaFAA) Director General, Emma M. Glassco, NaFAA said: “The management of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority, NaFAA says it has not received any communication from the World Bank that is now circulating in the media.
In its brief statement sent to News Public Trust on Thursday, August 22, 2024, the World Bank’s Liberia Country Office said: “The World Bank takes very seriously our obligation to ensure that Bank funds are used for clearly defined activities for the benefit of the people and communities we serve. World Bank-funded projects are implemented by recipient governments and are governed by policies and legal agreements meant to ensure that project funds are used for the purposes intended and as part of this, the World Bank conducts regular missions to monitor project implementation, assesses projects’ ability to meet their development goals, and proposes appropriate corrective actions if needed.”
“The World Bank is working with the Liberian Government to assess progress on the Liberia Sustainable Management Fishery Project – implemented by the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NAFAA) – and address any issues with the overall goal of improving fisheries management and enhancing the livelihoods and incomes for beneficiary communities,” it maintained.
