Africa-Press – Liberia. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), with funding support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has launched a three-day onboarding training workshop for development technicians from four counties to establish County Development Planning Units (CDPUs).
The training, held in Buchanan, brings together county development technicians from Grand Cape Mount, Margibi, Rivercess, and Montserrado. It is part of ongoing efforts under the Liberia Decentralization Support Program to implement Chapter Five of the Local Government Act of 2018, which mandates each of Liberia’s 15 counties to establish a CDPU.
Speaking at the opening, MIA Assistant Minister for Research and Development Planning, D. Emmanuel Wheinyue, emphasized that the initiative aligns with the government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development and aims to strengthen decentralized development planning across Liberia.
“The Government, through the Ministry of Internal Affairs, is ensuring that every county gets the proper training needed for the establishment of the County Development Planning Unit,” Wheinyue said. He added that only trained personnel under this program will be assigned to the planning units, based on an integrity agreement with development partners.
The CDPUs will function under the supervision of County Development Officers and be responsible for local development planning, project design, data collection, and monitoring and evaluation. Staff members will also coordinate with sector ministries and development partners.
UNDP Deputy Resident Representative for Programs, Louis Kuukpen, described the initiative as a milestone in Liberia’s decentralization and governance reform efforts. “The CDPU is not just a statutory requirement; it is a vital institution for inclusive development, local ownership, and coordination with the central government,” Kuukpen said.
To support the initiative, the UNDP is providing computers, printers, and other essential equipment to the four counties participating in this training phase. Six counties—Bomi, Bong, Lofa, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, and Nimba—had previously established CDPUs through similar training in 2024 with support from UN Women.
With ten CDPUs now established, Wheinyue assured that MIA is engaging partners to cover the remaining five counties.
Under the Local Government Act, the CDPU plays a central role in coordinating development activities, preparing county plans, supervising district units, managing data, and ensuring citizen participation—especially marginalized groups—in local development.
The onboarding training is held under the theme “Building a New Liberia Through Decentralization.”
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