Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) Minister, Augustine Kpehe Ngafaun, has reaffirmed the country’s commitment to placing children at the center of national development under the new government-UNICEF Country Programme (2026-2030).
At a high-level courtesy meeting, on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, in Monrovia with Gilles Fagninou, UNICEF Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Minister Ngafaun spoke of the country’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (2025-2029), rooted in protecting and advancing child well-being.
He underscored the ministry’s focus on integrated child-specific priorities into national financial planning, thinking of prioritizing the initiatives such as the national school feeding program.
He described as critical the improvement of educational outcomes and child nutrition.
“Children are not just beneficiaries, they are central to our vision for a prosperous Liberia,” he said.
Mr. Fagninou praised the country’s pioneering leadership, noting that the ministry is the first in the West and Central Africa region to explicitly insert child-focused policies in its national planning framework.
He commended the inclusion of dedicated budget lines, and disaggregated quarterly reporting, calling it a model for the region.
Both leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to finalize the 2026-2030 Country Programme, and build a resilient, homegrown financing strategies that reduce donor reliance, while ensuring the lasting impact for the country’s most vulnerable citizens.
Also, in attendance during the courtesy visit were Deputy Minister for Fiscal Affairs, Anthony G. Myers, Deputy Minister for Budget and Development Planning, Tanneh G. Brunson, and Assistant Minister for External Resources and Debt Management, and Alice Williams.