By Amos Harris
The Government of Liberia has launched a five-day Energy and Environment Sector Working Group (SWG) session aimed at shaping the country’s 2027 National Budget, with a strong focus on climate-smart development and sustainable investment. The exercise brings together key public institutions under Pillar Five (Environmental Sustainability) of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID).
The technical planning session, facilitated by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) and hosted by the Ministry of Mines and Energy in Monrovia, is intended to strengthen coordination among government agencies responsible for Liberia’s energy and environmental sectors.
Participating entities include the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA), Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC), Monrovia City Corporation, Paynesville City Corporation, National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL), Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC), Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA), Forestry Development Authority (FDA), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Speaking at the opening ceremony on behalf of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Deputy Minister for Administration Eudora Blay-Pritchard called on participants to work collaboratively and leverage their expertise to ensure the budget process delivers meaningful results. She praised member institutions for assigning qualified technical staff to the working group and stressed that teamwork and dedication would be essential to advancing Liberia’s national development priorities.
According to the Ministry, the working sessions will focus on developing climate-smart investment projects capable of driving sustainable economic growth while strengthening environmental governance. Discussions will examine sector priorities, policy and institutional frameworks, financing opportunities, and implementation strategies to ensure that proposed projects align with the ARREST Agenda, Liberia’s climate commitments, and broader environmental sustainability goals.
At the end of the five-day exercise, the Sector Working Group is expected to produce a coordinated roadmap outlining priority investments, stronger institutional collaboration, and concrete recommendations that will guide the formulation of the 2027 National Budget. The Ministry of Mines and Energy noted that the initiative represents a significant step toward building a more sustainable, climate-resilient, and energy-secure Liberia through coordinated planning and strategic public investment.