ZWEDRU, Grand Gedeh – The government has officially launched County Development Planning Units in five southeastern counties, completing a nationwide network designed to bring development planning closer to the people.
The rollout, finalized during a five-day onboarding training in Zwedru from October 20-24, 2025, equips Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Maryland, Grand Kru, and Sinoe counties with dedicated technical teams. This initiative, led by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UN Women, marks the culmination of a phased effort to establish these units in all 15 counties, as mandated by the 2018 Local Government Act.
Over 75 county officials, planners, and technicians participated in the intensive workshop, which was backed by the Liberia Decentralization Support Programme and the UN Peacebuilding Fund.
Deputy Minister for Operations, Selena Polson Mappy, hailed the establishment of the units as a “landmark step toward strengthening local governance and ensuring citizens experience the real benefits of decentralization.”
“These units will serve as the technical arm of county administrations, linking local priorities to national planning and monitoring frameworks,” Mappy stated during the workshop’s opening ceremony.
Each newly established unit will be staffed with five key technical roles: a Development Planning Officer, a Project Engineer, a Data Analyst, a Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, and a Gender and Social Inclusion Officer. According to Assistant Minister D. Emmanuel Wheinyue, this structure is designed to bridge the gap between community aspirations and the national agenda by fostering participatory and accountable planning.
The training focused on practical skills, with facilitators from key government institutions guiding participants through modules on inclusive planning, budgeting, audit compliance, and gender-responsive budgeting. The sessions combined theory with group work, enabling county teams to leave with draft plans and proposals ready for implementation.
Mr. D. Emmanuel Williams II, Director of Public Service Investment Programs at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, emphasized the critical role of the units, describing County Development Agendas as “practical roadmaps that connect national policy with community-level needs.”
The international partners underscored the importance of inclusive and transparent governance.
“Decentralization must reflect the voices of women, youth, and marginalized groups in county plans and budgets,” said Ms. Oretha T. Lah-Bangurah, Programme Support Officer for UN Women.
Speaking for UNDP, Mr. Eric Boykai, Interim National Program Coordinator, reinforced that the units are the essential link between national vision and local action. “These units are critical to advancing local governance by formulating inclusive, evidence-based development plans,” Boykai said.
With the southeastern cohort now trained, the national framework for decentralized planning is fully operational. The completion of this final phase positions every county in Liberia to better coordinate development projects, ensure resources are aligned with local needs, and strengthen transparency in how public services are delivered to communities.
