MONROVIA, LIBERIA-World Bank Country Manager Georgia Wallen has termed the launch and endorsement of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID) as an ambitious plan, revealing Liberia’s commitment to lifting per capita income by roughly 25 percent in five years.
Madam Wallen said:” This is “far beyond the “Business as Usual” scenario, embracing an ambitious program of policy action and accelerated delivery of results for the people of Liberia”.
She maintained that growth alone is not enough, noting that Liberia will need inclusive growth, with job creation and increased delivery of essential services for Liberians nationwide.
The World Bank Country Manager for Liberia also observed that the strategic orientations of the AAID are bold, noting that it outlines the need for fundamental adjustment in Liberia’s development model — towards increased productivity and value addition, unleashing the private sector as the engine of growth.
According to her, the AAID aims to take on deeply challenging constraints to development – particularly related to the rule of law, governance, accountability, and transparency, issues she noted are not often positioned so urgently at the core of a national development strategy.
Making remarks at the Launch of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, the World Bank Country Manager called for bold action to unlock a new development paradigm for Liberia, recommitting the Bank to work closely with the government on the governance agenda.
The World Bank Country Manager lauded Liberia for a “decidedly people-centered AAID plan, which highlights Liberia’s young, hopeful population – with the vast majority under the age of 35.
She said the AAID also aims to be inclusive, with a strong focus on women and youth, as well as awareness of the need to deepen efforts to reach vulnerable communities, including disabled Liberians.
Madam Wallen highlighted the importance of domestic resource mobilization to fund the AAID strategy, which has an estimated cost of 8.4 billion United States Dollars, with 5 billion expected to come from the Government of Liberia.
She also stressed the need for mobilizing private investment – and details the urgency of reform to foster an enabling environment to boost business creation, firm growth, and jobs, acknowledging the role of development partners, where selectivity prioritization will be vital to make the most of scarce concessional resources.
She said with roughly five years left to scale results for Liberia Rising 2030, time is of the essence, noting that the World Bank is driven by urgency to deliver impact in the race to 2030 – not only in Liberia but in developing countries all around the world, recommitting the Bank to working with government to advance an ambitious agenda that delivers tangible results.