MONROVIA, LIBERIA – In a high-level meeting held on February 28, 2025, Liberia’s Finance Minister, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, and Deputy Minister for Economic Management, Dephue Zuo, engaged with the diplomatic community in Monrovia to address the ongoing USAID aid freeze and the potential impacts on Liberia’s development. The meeting, which was presided over by UN Resident Coordinator Christine N. Umutoni, saw the participation of several ambassadors, including the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Cameroonian Ambassador Augustine Gang, and representatives from countries such as the United States, the European Union, Germany, Nigeria, and Ghana.
The freeze on USAID assistance presents a significant challenge for Liberia, which has long depended on international aid for key sectors like education, healthcare, and infrastructure. During the meeting, Deputy Minister Zuo emphasized the growing impact of the aid cut on Liberia’s economic landscape. He highlighted the government’s efforts to minimize the repercussions of the freeze while maintaining essential public services.
Minister Ngafuan also addressed the gathering, stressing that Liberia has weathered significant crises in the past, including the global food and fuel crisis of 2008/2009, the Ebola outbreak, and the COVID-19 pandemic. He conveyed optimism that Liberia would overcome the current challenge, citing the strong support the country received from its international partners during those difficult times.
The Finance Minister further outlined the government’s plan to mitigate the impact of the aid freeze, focusing on expenditure rationalization and enhancing domestic resource mobilization as the primary measures to address the financial shortfall. Ngafuan assured the diplomatic community that Liberia was committed to continuing vital programs in health and education, areas that have been directly affected by the USAID cut. He called for increased support from other international partners to fill the gap left by the aid freeze.
Ambassadors present at the meeting reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to supporting Liberia during this challenging period. The European Union Ambassador, in particular, announced that the EU would provide support to local civil society organizations for election observation, an area of USAID support that was also impacted by the freeze. The diplomats voiced their solidarity with Liberia, stating that their countries would stand by the nation through these trying times.
Minister Ngafuan concluded the meeting by informing the diplomatic community that the government would provide regular updates on the evolving situation. He also announced plans for a Partners Roundtable, which will be organized in collaboration with the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office and UNDP at the end of March 2025.
