The World Bank Group Executive Director for Liberia, Zarau Wendeline Kibwe, has praised government for the continues growth, specifically in the area of economy.
Kibwe spoke on Tuesday, April 28, at a meeting with the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan and other senior government officials.
Kibwe’s mission was focused on assessing the development impact of World Bank-supported projects on the livelihoods of ordinary Liberians.
He was to identify implementation challenges, and explore prospects for additional investments aligned with Liberia’s national development agenda- particularly in the context of global geopolitical tensions and macroeconomic headwinds.
Earlier, Ngafuan emphasized the importance and timeliness of the visit, noting that Liberia continues to face external economic shocks and fiscal pressures amid a challenging global environment.
According to a release, Ngafuan reaffirmed the government’s strong commitment to its partnership with the World Bank, which he described as a cornerstone of development agenda.
“Our partnership with the World Bank remains strong and impactful,” Ngafuan stated, highlighting the institution’s consistent support in helping Liberia navigate periods of economic uncertainty and maintain resilience.
A significant portion of the discussions centered on assessing the performance of the country’s World Bank-funded project portfolio. Participants reviewed progress made, while also acknowledging persistent implementation challenges, including delays and bottlenecks affecting disbursement rates.
Ngafuan disclosed that the government is preparing to undertake a comprehensive portfolio review to improve efficiency, accelerate project execution, and ensure more effective use of resources.
He noted that particular attention will be given to priority sectors such as infrastructure, public works and water service delivery.
Despite the challenges, Ngafuan pointed to encourage gains in recent months.
He highlighted improved implementation rates, increased disbursement levels, and a growing pipeline of new projects.
“These efforts,” Ngafun said, “are already yielding tangible results, including enhanced road connectivity and expanded access to essential services for communities.”
For Kibwe, his visit was intended to deepen engagement with Liberian authorities and gain a clearer understanding of the country’s evolving development priorities.
He reaffirmed that Liberia remains an important partner and shareholder within the World Bank.
Mr. Kibwe commended the Liberian Government for maintaining “relative macroeconomic stability despite global economic pressures.”
He observed that Liberia’s performance compares favorably with several countries in the region, reflecting prudent economic management and resilience.
However, he stressed the importance of sustaining key reforms to improve the business climate, attracting investment and creating jobs.
These areas, Kibwe noted, remain central to the World Bank’s support framework in Liberia.
The meeting brought together the World Bank Country Manager for Liberia, Georgia Wallen, the Senior Advisor to the Executive Director, Dr. Plingloh Emmanuel Munyeneh, Central Bank Governor Henry Saamoi, Minister of Public Works, Roland Giddings and Forestry Development Authority Managing Director, Rudolph J. Merab.