Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, has reaffirmed country’s unwavering commitment to continuously make progress towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Ngafuan declared that the country is taking greater ownership of its development agenda despite mounting global economic challenges.
He presented Liberia’s Third Voluntary National Review at the 2026 United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF).
The event was on Sustainable Development in New York on Friday, July 10, 2026. Ngafuan told the delegates that Liberia remains firmly focused on delivering inclusive and sustainable development for its people.
Liberia joined 35 other countries presenting their Voluntary National Reviews under the year’s HLPF theme: “Transformative, Equitable, Innovative and Coordinative Actions for the 2030 Agenda.”
Mr. Ngafuan highlighted government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (2025-2029) as the country’s roadmap for implementing the Sustainable Development Goals.
He said, the National Development Plan contains 375 development interventions, with approximately 83 percent directly aligned to specific SDG targets, thus demonstrating government’s commitment to measurable and accountable development.
He reported that Liberia continued to make steady progress by improving the quality of life for its citizens.
The country’s Human Development Index now stands at 0.510, while the national poverty rate has fallen from 34 percent in 2020 to 29.6 percent in 2024, reflecting continued improvement in livelihoods and economic opportunities.
Ngafuan further said, Liberia’s economy has remained resilient despite global economic uncertainties, with GDP growth projected at 5.5 percent, significantly lower that the double-digit inflation experienced in 2023.
Ngafuan also highlighted progress as maternal mortality continued to decline, disease surveillance systems have now become capable of detecting outbreaks within 24 to 48 hours, school enrollment is increasing and expanded and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programs are equipping young Liberians with practical skills for employment.
The review further revealed how mobile money accounts have increased from 1.5 million in 2020 to more than 3.5 million today, expanding financial inclusion, particularly for rural communities.
Liberia also reported encouraging progress on several Sustainable Development Goals. Access to safe drinking water has increased to 78.8 percent of the population, while sanitation coverage as improved from 18 to 28 percent.
Electricity access has expanded from 32.7 to 38 percent, supported by increased generation capacity of 146 megawatts, driven largely by renewable energy investment.
Road infrastructure continued to improve, with paved roads increasing from approximately 1,300 kilometers in 2023 to about 1,450 kilometers by the of 2025, while government remains on course to achieve its target of 2,000 kilometers by 2029.
He also informed delegates that 4G telecommunications coverage now reaches 80 percent of Liberia, construction has begun on the country’s first Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone, urban slum conditions continued to decline, and domestic revenue has grown from US$606.3 million in 2023 to more than US$840 million in 2025, raising Liberia’s revenue-to-GDP ratio to 15.8 percent.
While acknowledging these achievements, Ngafuan said, Liberia continued to face significant external challenges, including the withdrawal of support from one of its largest development partners in 2025, rising global fuel and food prices resulting from the Middle East crisis, and increasing debt serving obligation.
Despite these setbacks, he said, Liberia remains committed to pursue sustainable, inclusive and climate-resilient development.
“Liberia is not retreating. We are taking ownership. We are modernizing tax administration, accelerating digital transformation, strengthening climate resilience and mobilizing more domestic resources to finance our own development priorities. Our commitment to ensure that Liberian is left behind remains steadfast.”
Nagfuan underscored how Liberia Third Voluntary National Review was developed through a highly participatory process, with more than 40 percent of consultations led by civil society organizations, women, youth and persons with disabilities, ensuring that the report reflects the voices and aspirations of Liberians.
He meanwhile, called for stronger international partnership, increased private sector investment, innovative financing mechanisms, technology transfer, and enhanced global cooperation to help accelerate the progress to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
On the delegation for the presentation were the ministers of Mines and Energy and Labor, Richard Matenokay Tingban, and Cooper Kruah.
By: Macpherson C. Marbiah
