By Amos Harris
Liberia has reaffirmed its strong commitment to multilateralism, sustainable development, and the crucial role of education, science, and culture in building a better future.
The nation’s pledge was delivered during the 221st Session of UNESCO’s Executive Board, held in Paris.
Speaking on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia, Minister of Education Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah delivered a keynote address emphasizing Liberia’s ongoing dedication to global cooperation. She commended UNESCO’s leadership under Director-General Audrey Azoulay and expressed support for the Priority Africa initiative.
“Let us ensure that education, science, and culture remain central to our global development agenda,” Dr. Jallah urged. “We must move beyond rhetoric to concrete actions that uphold human dignity, empower communities, and drive collective prosperity.”
Highlighting Liberia’s recent achievements, the Minister pointed to the rollout of solar-powered C3 Micro Cloud Systems in 156 public schools across all 15 counties – an initiative aimed at improving access to digital education, especially in rural areas.
Dr. Jallah also lauded the positive impact of UNESCO’s Capacity Development for Education (CapED) Programme, noting its vital role in integrating Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) data into Liberia’s Education Management Information System (EMIS), thereby enhancing the country’s capacity for data-driven decision-making in the education sector.
On the environmental front, the Minister highlighted Liberia’s adoption of the Climate Risk Informed Decision Analysis (CRIDA) methodology, developed with UNESCO’s technical support, to manage three major watersheds serving over 40% of the population.
Additionally, she spotlighted the creation of Innovation Hubs at four regional universities, a milestone achieved through UNESCO’s assistance in promoting STEM education.
In the cultural domain, Dr. Jallah praised Liberia’s participation in the MONDIACULT 2025 regional consultations, which are helping to shape inclusive and sustainable cultural policies. She also announced the country’s involvement in the upcoming West Africa Conference on Information Integrity, aimed at promoting responsible digital engagement and preserving cultural identity.
The Minister concluded by reaffirming Liberia’s support for the Africa Group’s position at UNESCO and called for sustained investment in key areas such as digital transformation, teacher training, and the inclusion of African sites in future UNESCO Global Geopark recognitions.
The 221st Session brought together Member States to assess UNESCO’s strategic priorities in education, science, culture, and communication, with a special focus on advancing the Priority Africa agenda.
Comments are closed.