Monrovia -The USAID Liberia Economic Policy Dialogue Activity (LEPDA) has closed its project in Liberia worth US$16.3M.
By Edwin G. Genoway, Jr(231886458910)-[email protected]
Implemented by Nathan, a Cadmus, the project began October 1, 2019 and ended January 2024.
The purpose of the project was to strengthen policy-making capacity within the Government of Liberia and facilitate the design and implementation of specific reforms to promote private sector-led, broad-based economic growth and development.
The project’s four objectives were to also established and implemented frameworks to promote policy reforms in specific areas, such as concessions, Special Economic Zones (SEZs), trade facilitation or ports, import policies to improve the business climate, increase domestic revenues and support private sector development.
The second objective of the project was to establish and implement Policy Unit Team (PUT) to support smaller policy units in line with Government of Liberia ministries and agencies, such as the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of States, Central Bank of Liberia, the WASH Commission and others to support the design, implementation and evaluation of policies addressing private sector development and economic management.
Providing more details for the project at program marking the close-out event and reception at a local hotel in Monrovia, the Chief of Party of LEPDA, Madam Sue Tatten, said throughout the LEPDA’s four- year operations in Liberia, it has been providing technical assistance, capacity development and grants program.
Madam Tatten said LEPDA worked with the Government of Liberia and Civil Society organizations to foster self-reliance by spurring private sector-led economic growth implemented by Nathan.
She described the program as being successful and thanked her 12-member staffers for working tirelessly during the four-year of operations of LEPDA.
She’s of the conviction that the objectives of the program were met saying, one of the objectives of the project was, “Strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations to conduct robust policy analysis as ‘think-tanks’ while increasing citizens’ participation and advocacy in the policy-making arena to be effective partners in the overall policy-making process,” she said.
Also speaking at the LEPDA close-out program over the weekend, the Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia, J. Aloysius Tarlue, praised the USAID for their continued support to Liberia.
He said with the support from USAID and the American people, the four-year project implemented by LEPDA also impacted the CBL positively through the necessary programs and supports.
He said as the project comes to an end, there are still roadmaps laid down by the project that Liberia can always benefit from. He’s however calling on the incoming government to support the initiatives and programs that improve the economy of Liberia.
“The Central Bank of Liberia is pleading with the incoming leadership to cooperate and support programs currently on the books to help the economy of Liberia,” he said.
He said LEPDA’s work with the Central Bank of Liberia helped the Bank put in place processes for transparent procurement of the nation’s currency.
For her part CHARGE D’AFFAIRES at the United States Mission in Liberia, CATHERINE RODRIGUEZ, said she was pleased to join in celebrating the transformative gains made by LEPDA – the Liberia Economic Policy Dialogue Activity – funded through the generous support of the American People.
“As you are aware, LEPDA aimed to strengthen policy-making capacity within the Government of Liberia and support public sector reforms aimed at spurring private sector-led economic growth,” she said.
Madam Rodriguez described the LEPDA project as a huge undertaking and success depended on employing innovative approaches and best practices as well as fostering productive engagements with all stakeholders.
“Therefore, I want to thank everyone who contributed to the successful implementation of LEPDA. All of you directly or indirectly involved with LEPDA can take justifiable pride in what you accomplished together, particularly given the very difficult and often uncertain circumstance under which you worked—COVID-19, economic stagnation, as well as the worsening effects of climate change and related shocks,” she added.
She furthered stated that, “we’ve heard about the great work LEPDA did under these trying conditions. We know, for example, how LEPDA helped the Commercial Court adopt rules and institute reforms to more efficiently adjudicate commercial disputes and speedily enforce court judgments.
“And we know how LEPDA supported the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to adopt the first indigenous fiscal macro model,” she noted
She concluded by asking Liberians to look beyond the achievements and remember LEPDA for the positive impact their work has had on the lives of ordinary Liberians.