By Amos Harris
MONROVIA, LIBERIA — The Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment (LACE) and the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC) have signed a major Corporate Partnership Agreement. This strategic collaboration is aimed at strengthening community development and advancing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives across Liberia. The formal agreement was signed over the weekend at LPRC’s headquarters in Monrovia during a ceremony attended by senior leadership from both institutions, signaling a shared commitment to sustainable development and improving living conditions for vulnerable populations nationwide.
Speaking at the ceremony, LACE Executive Director Julius K. Sele expressed deep appreciation to the management of LPRC for initiating the partnership, describing it as a significant milestone for the Agency. He noted that the agreement comes at a critical time when international donor funding has experienced a sharp decline, making local partnerships increasingly vital to sustaining LACE’s community empowerment programs. Director Sele stated that the collaboration will allow LACE to expand its interventions and continue providing critical assistance to underserved communities across the country. He praised LPRC’s leadership for recognizing LACE’s proven track record of successfully implementing development projects that transform the lives of vulnerable Liberians.
The LACE Executive Director also disclosed that reliable government funding for the Agency is no longer guaranteed. In response to these financial constraints, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai submitted amendments to the LACE Act to the National Legislature to strengthen the Agency’s long-term sustainability. According to Director Sele, the proposed amendment has already been passed by the House of Representatives and is currently awaiting concurrence from the Liberian Senate. He added that LPRC’s decision to partner with LACE directly aligns with the President’s vision of boosting local support for the Agency through strategic collaborations with state-owned enterprises. Mr. Sele used the platform to encourage other public institutions to emulate LPRC’s example by backing LACE’s community development efforts.
For his part, LPRC Managing Director Amara M. Kamara described the signing as an important historic milestone for the Company. He noted that this marks the beginning of a long-term partnership that will see LACE handle the implementation of one of LPRC’s flagship CSR projects. Managing Director Kamara announced that the first initiative under this new agreement will be the construction of a modern Student Center at Grand Gedeh University in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County. This project forms part of LPRC’s 2026 Corporate Social Responsibility Program, which also includes providing critical support to healthcare facilities through the distribution of hospital beds, anesthesia machines, and launching separate community development projects in Negenbahn, Nimba County, alongside other regions of the country.
The LPRC Managing Director extended gratitude to the Company’s Board of Directors and management team for approving the 2026 CSR Program. He expressed absolute confidence in LACE’s operational ability to deliver high-quality infrastructure that meets rigorous national standards. He assured the LACE leadership that LPRC would continue to engage the Agency for future CSR initiatives, emphasizing that the partnership is designed to be a durable, long-term relationship focused on delivering tangible benefits directly to Liberian citizens. Addressing the people of Grand Gedeh County specifically, Mr. Kamara stated that the planned Student Center demonstrates LPRC’s unwavering commitment to investing in education and empowering the youth, noting that the project represents just the beginning of several developmental initiatives planned for the country.
The ceremony concluded with both institutions reaffirming their shared commitment to a transparent and productive collaboration. Leaders from both entities urged other State-Owned Enterprises to actively invest in meaningful Corporate Social Responsibility programs, especially as traditional international donor support continues to dwindle. They stressed that forging stronger local partnerships is now the most essential pathway to sustaining developmental progress and uplifting the welfare of communities throughout Liberia.
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