The Government of Liberia and Development Partners on Friday, June 16, 2023 launched the Liberia Urban Resilience Project (LURP), as well as the Monrovia Integrated Development Project (MIDP).

The one-day event convened stakeholders from the Government of Liberia, World Bank and the French Development Agency (AFD) at the Paynesville City Hall outside the country’s Capital, Monrovia.

Some attendees present at the occasion included Public Works Minister, Ruth Coker-Collins; Finance and Development Planning Minister, Samuel Tweah; Minister of State Without Portfolio Trokon Kpui; French Ambassador to Liberia, H. E. Michael Roux; World Bank Acting Country Manager, Mark Mulbah; as well as Monrovia City Mayor, Jefferson Koijee, Representatives from the Liberian Marketing Association, Other Members of the City Council, amongst others.

Representing the President of Liberia, Minister of State Without Portfolio Trokon Kpui extolled the Development Partners and the Government of Liberia for the launch of the Liberia Urban Resilience Project and its subsidiary, the Monrovia Integrated Development Project. He used the occasion to caution citizens against the dumping of wastes on the streets.

According to him, citizens have a huge responsibility in joining Government and Partners to ensure urban resilience across the country.

In special remarks, World Bank Acting Country Manager Mark Mulbah said both the LURP and the MIDP represent the World Bank and AFD’s second joint effort in Liberia in support of the country’s national development agenda.

The World Bank Official stated that the two projects are designed to address multiple challenges in urban areas, some of which include climate change and flooding.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mulbah speaking on behalf of the World Bank, pledged the Bank’s continued support as LURP aims at investing in activities at the national and community levels, as well as in all sectors in the country.

At the same time, Public Works Minister, Hon. Ruth Coker-Collins rallied the locals to embrace the two projects aimed at addressing major issues in urban settlements ranging from solid waste management, flooding, opening of alleyways, etc.

Minister Coker-Collins also used the event to reaffirm the Ministry’s commitment to the full implementation of the two projects, terming them as crucial to national development, with emphasis on urban resilience.

Also speaking Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel Tweah lauded the French Government for its support, as well as the World Bank that continues to provide traction to Liberia’s development drive.

Minister Tweah at the same indicated that the French Government is an important bilateral partner, noting that Liberia is better positioned to benefit from its assistance even as a non-francophone country.

For his part, French Ambassador to Liberia H. E. Michael Roux praised the strong partnership that subsists between various Development Partners including the World Bank, African Development Bank, the European Union and others for their overarching roles play in the development of Liberia across various sectors.

Ambassador Roux said the project(s) will help in the areas of climate change, access to roads through the solar electricity, capacity building, and others.

He also thanked the Government and People of Liberia for the warm reception accorded him since his arrival into the country, and promised to remain committed to the implementation of the LURP and the MIDP.

The Project is jointly funded through the World Bank’s IDA Financing Facility amounting to US40M and the French Development  Agency also providing EURO 10M for the implementation of the project.

The Project, amongst many things, is expected to be implemented in parallel with both funding provided through the setting up of a Project Management Unit (PMU ) to be managed by the Ministry of Public Works.