The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), under the Accelerated Community Development Programme (ACDP), will formally hand over four modern solar-powered water facilities valued at $334,847.28 USD to beneficiary communities in Gbarpolu and Rivercess Counties.
The handover ceremonies are scheduled for Wednesday, September 24, 2025, in Bopolu, Gbarpolu County, and Tuesday, September 30, 2025, in Yarkpah Town, Rivercess County.
The beneficiary communities include Mardina, Totoquelleh, and Bopolu in Gbarpolu County, and Yarkpah Town in Rivercess County. These facilities are part of the ACDP, a flagship initiative co-funded by the Government of Liberia and UNDP, aimed at accelerating development in underserved rural areas.
Each facility provides access to safe and clean drinking water for an estimated 8,000 residents. Equipped with solar-powered systems, the infrastructures ensure continuous water flow and distribution to various water points and kiosks.
They also feature chlorination units for water purification, significantly reducing the risk of waterborne diseases that have long plagued these communities due to reliance on contaminated sources such as creeks.
Strategically located within the communities, the facilities also enhance security for women and girls, who previously had to travel long distances to fetch water—often exposing them to risks of gender-based violence.
The new infrastructure reduces these vulnerabilities by providing safe, nearby access to clean water.
The handover ceremonies will begin at 10:30 AM in Bopolu on September 24 and at 11:00 AM in Yarkpah Town on September 30.
The events will be attended by senior government officials, development partners, civil society organizations, local authorities, and community members.
This brings the total number of solar-powered water facilities constructed under the ACDP to five, including the previously completed facility in Donfah, Bong County, with a combined value of $418,559.10 USD.”
Construction of five additional water facilities is currently underway in Bong, Nimba, and Lofa Counties, with completion and dedication expected before the end of 2025.
According to Boye Johnson, Interim Manager of ACDP, the water facilities will not only improve access to safe drinking water and support irrigation but also contribute to reducing security risks for vulnerable populations.
The Accelerated Community Development Programme (ACDP) is a five-year initiative designed to address the urgent needs of Liberia’s rural poor.
With a budget of $100 million USD for its first three years (2022–2025), the programme focuses on investments in agriculture, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), energy, health, education, and infrastructure.
Implemented by UNDP, ACDP aims to reduce poverty, strengthen human capital, and build resilience to shocks and pandemics, while supporting the implementation of Liberia’s national development plan (AAID) and advancing progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
