Africa-Press – Liberia. The Government of Liberia has received €21 million, equivalent to approximately US$24.6 million, in direct budget support from the European Union following what both sides described as successful implementation of agreed fiscal and governance reforms.
The disbursement represents the first installment of a three-year €56 million grant-based budget support program aimed at strengthening Liberia’s public financial management, transparency, and economic governance.
Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan announced the release of the funds on Friday in Monrovia during a joint press conference marking the official disbursement. He described the European Union as a dependable and genuine partner whose support is rooted in delivery rather than declarations.
Minister Ngafuan said the release of the funds demonstrates that Liberia’s reform commitments have translated into measurable outcomes. According to him, the money has already been deposited into the government’s account at the Central Bank of Liberia, confirming that resources projected in the national budget have now materialized.
He explained that the €21 million was disbursed strictly on the basis of performance after Liberia fulfilled a series of demanding reform benchmarks that were jointly agreed upon with the European Union. The finance minister acknowledged that meeting the conditions required sustained coordination and commitment across government institutions.
Ngafuan recalled that the scope of the reform triggers initially appeared overwhelming but said the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning responded by mobilizing technical staff, extending work hours, and strengthening coordination with relevant agencies to meet all the requirements within the agreed timeline.
He praised staff of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, particularly those in the Department of Economic Management, the Budget Department, and units responsible for managing external resources, for ensuring that Liberia complied with the European Union’s strict eligibility standards and reform targets.
The minister emphasized that the €21 million is not additional or unplanned funding but was already captured in the approved 2025 National Budget. He said the timely release of the funds helped stabilize government financing and averted potential fiscal gaps that could have affected key sectors.
According to Ngafuan, the availability of the funds is critical for sustaining government operations, especially in sensitive areas such as national security and essential public services that depend on predictable budget execution and steady cash flow.
Earlier at the same event, European Union Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Liberia Nora Deprez confirmed that Liberia qualified for the full amount allocated for 2025 under the budget support arrangement. She attributed the successful disbursement to concrete progress in public financial management reforms, improved governance practices, and strengthened oversight systems.
Ambassador Deprez said the level of disbursement reflects confidence in Liberia’s reform agenda and underscores the strength of the partnership between Liberia and the European Union. She explained that EU budget support is strictly performance-based and is released only after partner countries meet clearly defined eligibility criteria.
She noted that these conditions include the existence of a credible national development framework, which in Liberia’s case is the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, the maintenance of macroeconomic stability, transparent and accountable budget processes, and the achievement of specific disbursement-linked indicators.
According to the EU envoy, the budget support program targets several priority reform areas, including strengthening public financial management and oversight institutions, improving domestic revenue mobilization particularly from natural resources, enhancing transparency and accountability in governance, supporting the local rice value chain to boost food security, and reinforcing Liberia’s network of protected areas.
Among the achievements highlighted by the European Union was a significant improvement in budget preparation, with the percentage of ministries, agencies, and commissions submitting work plans and budget proposals on time increasing from 50 percent to 75 percent by the third quarter. She said this progress has contributed to a more disciplined and credible national budgeting process.
The EU also cited gains in forestry sector transparency, including the publication of key forest and concession data on the Forestry Development Authority’s website, as well as improved oversight of state-owned enterprises through the establishment and operationalization of the State Enterprises Authority of Liberia.
Ambassador Deprez reaffirmed the European Union’s long-term commitment to Liberia’s development, stressing that continued support will remain linked to sustained reforms, accountability, and transparent governance. She said the EU views budget support as a tool that strengthens national systems and promotes local ownership of development policies.
The €56 million budget support program, which will be implemented over three years, is being provided entirely as a grant, reflecting the European Union’s confidence in Liberia’s reform trajectory and its commitment to supporting inclusive and sustainable development outcomes for the country.
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