The Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC) and the African Union Commission (AUC) recently concluded a five-day Climate-Resilient Water Investment Planning Workshop in Monrovia. The workshop brought together approximately 30 participants from various institutions, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National WASH Commission. The goal was to address Liberia's water challenges and shape a plan to attract necessary investments. Participants emphasized the need for a climate-resilient investment plan to protect water services and respond to emerging climate threats.
Mohammed J. Massaley, Senior Programme Manager at WaterAid, highlighted the critical moment for Liberia, as communities experience the effects of climate change, including coastal erosion and flooding. He noted that Liberia's previous investment plan for the water sector dated back to 2011 and expired in 2017, leaving the sector without a current investment framework. Massaley called for stronger political commitment from the government to ensure the work initiated through the workshop receives attention and support.
Timothy Kieh, Head of Secretariat and National Coordinator of the WASH Legislative Caucus Secretariat/Civil Society WASH, emphasized the importance of coordination among institutions. He urged stakeholders to ensure the process does not end with the training but continues toward implementation. Kieh pledged to brief civil society constituents on the workshop's outcome and engage the Legislature to secure legislative support for implementation.
Frances B. Doe, Administrator at the Liberia Hydrological Service of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, underscored the need for stronger data collection to guide investment decisions. She emphasized that Liberia must work collectively as a water sector and increase data collection to inform future investments. Emmanuel S. Kolleh, Senior WASH Supervisor at the EPA, described the training as timely, noting participants gained knowledge on climate-resilient planning, investment, and coordination.
The African Union Commission delegation stressed that the workshop was only the beginning. Kidanemariam Jember, Technical Advisor for Water Security, Climate Resilience and Gender Equality, said the next major step is to develop a pipeline of projects capable of attracting investment. He explained that technical support would continue to help Liberia prepare projects for development and climate financing.
Francis Meinrald Mtitu, Advisor for Transboundary Water Management and Investment at the African Union Commission, said the AUC's involvement was part of a broader directive from African heads of state and government for member states to develop climate-resilient investment plans. Mtitu emphasized the ultimate objective is to produce "bankable project proposals" capable of attracting financing and addressing Liberia's water and sanitation infrastructure challenges.
Deputy Managing Director for Administration, Hon. T. Wilson Gaye, speaking on behalf of LWSC Management, thanked the African Union Commission for supporting capacity building in Liberia. He said the workshop had two major objectives: strengthening collaboration and partnerships, and positioning Liberia to attract investment for climate resilience. Gaye expects the partnership with the African Union Commission to move beyond training toward practical outcomes, including a climate-resilient master plan and investment opportunities.
Key points
- Participants call for stronger institutional coordination and political commitment to turn the training into concrete projects.
- Liberia's water sector lacks a current investment framework, with the previous plan expiring in 2017.
- The African Union Commission will continue working with Liberia to develop a pipeline of projects capable of attracting investment.
