IPNEWS: The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), with support from the Government of Liberia, UNDP, and UN Women, has launched a five-day onboarding training in Zwedru to establish County Development Planning Units in five southeastern counties: Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Maryland, Grand Kru, and Sinoe.
The initiative is part of the Liberia Decentralization Support Programme and the UN Peacebuilding Fund project focused on promoting social accountability and transparency in governance.
Held in Zwedru from 20–24 October 2025, the training convened over 75 County Development Planning Officers, County Officials, Heads of Ministries, Agencies and Commissions (MACs), and facilitators from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Governance Commission, Internal Audit Agency, and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.
Several local technicians also participated. The initiative aims to advance the implementation of the Local Government Act of 2018 under the theme “Building a New Liberia through Decentralization.”
Opening the workshop, Deputy Minister for Operations Selena Polson Mappy described the establishment of County Development Planning Units as “a landmark step toward strengthening local governance and ensuring citizens experience the real benefits of decentralization.”
She emphasized that the units will serve as the technical arm of county administrations, linking local priorities to national planning and monitoring frameworks.
Assistant Minister for Research and Development Planning, D. Emmanuel Wheinyue, outlined the structure of each unit, which will include five key technical roles- Development Planning Officer, Project Engineer, Data Analyst, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, and Gender and Social Inclusion Officer.
These professionals, supported by County Development Officers and other local officials, will facilitate the planning, implementation, and reporting of programs and projects under the County Development Agendas.
“These units will bridge the gap between local development aspirations and the Government’s national agenda by promoting participatory and accountable planning,” he stated.
Additional remarks from the Governance Commission and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning highlighted the importance of coordination, transparency, and accountability in county development planning.
Mr. D. Emmanuel Williams II, Director of Public Service Investment Programs at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, described County Development Agendas as “practical roadmaps that connect national policy with community-level needs,” stressing that the success of decentralization depends on the functionality and effectiveness of these new units.
Representing UN Women, Programme Support Officer Ms. Oretha T. Lah-Bangurah emphasized that decentralization must reflect the voices of women, youth, and marginalized groups in county plans and budgets.
She highlighted UN Women’s support through the Peacebuilding Fund project to embed gender-responsive planning and accountability throughout the planning cycle.
Speaking on behalf of UNDP, Mr. Eric Boykai, Interim National Program Coordinator of the LDSP, underscored that County Development Planning Units are the link between national vision and county-level action.
He encouraged participants to use the week’s tools and templates to translate local priorities into implementable projects with clear responsibilities and timelines.
Boykai concluded that these units are critical to advancing local governance by formulating inclusive, evidence-based development plans aligned with national priorities, and by ensuring coordinated aid and resource alignment while monitoring development activities to promote transparency and effective service delivery.
Throughout the week, facilitators from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Governance Commission, Internal Audit Agency, and Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection are guiding modules on inclusive planning methods, Public Sector Investment Programme, concept note and proposal development, programme budgeting, internal audit and compliance, monitoring and evaluation, and gender-responsive planning and budgeting. Sessions combine presentations with group work and practical use of standard templates, enabling county teams to leave with draft materials ready for refinement and adoption.
The onboarding in Zwedru marks the final phase in meeting the legal requirement for all 15 counties to establish County Development Planning Units.
Previous phases saw six units established in December last year and four more in May 2025. With this southeastern cohort, the nationwide rollout is now complete.
With core teams trained, roles defined, and tools in place, counties are now positioned to deliver services closer to communities, strengthen transparency and accountability in local development, and align county priorities with national policy through County Development Agendas.
As the week concludes, participants will complete a post-training assessment and finalize next-step actions with their County Development Officers and Superintendents.
Through this joint effort by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, UNDP, and UN Women—supported by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund and Government of Liberia counterpart funding—Liberia takes a practical step toward making decentralization work for every county and every community.
