Liberia's Finance Ministery Reaffirms Commitment to Climate Financing at National People’s Climate Justice Summit

The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) has reiterated the Government of Liberia’s commitment to people-centered climate financing, with strong emphasis on agroecology, renewable energy, and inclusive development.

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Hon. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, Deputy Minister Bill McGill spoke at the opening of ActionAid Liberia’s National People’s Climate Justice Summit, held under the theme “Climate Financing for Agroecology and Renewable Energy.”

He emphasized that climate change is no longer solely an environmental issue, but a macro-fiscal and development challenge with direct implications for national revenue, infrastructure, agriculture, and Liberia’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.

To address these challenges, the Deputy Minister highlighted the establishment of the Climate Integration and Financing Office (CIFO) at the MFDP. The office is tasked with mainstreaming climate considerations into national planning and budgeting, while mobilizing resources for climate-resilient interventions.

He noted that Liberia’s progress in climate action has been strengthened through partnerships with international financial institutions and development partners, including the World Bank Group, International Monetary Fund (IMF), African Development Bank (AfDB), United Nations agencies, the Government of Sweden, the European Union, and civil society organizations such as ActionAid.

According to the MFDP, the objectives of the Summit scaling agroecology, building a national agroecology movement, and empowering women and youth farmers align closely with government priorities. The Ministry is promoting People-Driven Climate Finance to ensure resources reach women farmers, youth innovators, rural cooperatives, and climate-vulnerable communities.

The Deputy Minister also disclosed that the government is exploring Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and innovative financing instruments to attract investment in renewable energy, green jobs, and youth-led climate innovation, as part of Liberia’s Just Energy Transition.

In the agriculture sector, the MFDP continues to prioritize financing for agroecological practices, ecosystem restoration, and climate-smart farming, in line with the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). These efforts aim to enhance food security, create green employment opportunities, and strengthen resilience to climate shocks.

He further noted that disaster risk reduction is increasingly being integrated into national budgets, shifting the country from reactive responses to preventive and preparedness-focused investments.

On international commitments, the Deputy Minister reported that Liberia has made notable progress under its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) 2.0, securing approximately US$573 million in commitments, with US$213 million disbursed as of December 2024. However, he acknowledged that fiscal constraints remain significant, particularly as Liberia embarks on the implementation of its newly launched NDC 3.0, which outlines more ambitious mitigation and adaptation targets.

The MFDP, he said, stands ready to work with stakeholders and partners to mobilize adequate, predictable, and sustainable financing to support climate-related projects and programs.

The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to transparent and inclusive climate finance, strategic investment in agroecology and renewable energy, collaboration with civil society and the private sector, and the use of innovative financing mechanisms to advance a climate-resilient and inclusive economy.

Speaking earlier when she officially opened the summit, ActionAid Liberia's Country Director, Elizabeth Gbah Johnson described the gathering as one that goes beyond having just conversations or dialogues.

“We come together not just to discuss climate change, but to confront inequality and to demand a just transition where policies, finance, and technology deliver dignity and resilience to those who bear the greatest burden of the climate crisis,” she said.

Johnson highlighted gains from the inaugural summit in 2024, including stronger civil society–government engagement, women and youth participation in Liberia’s NDC 3.0 process, and commitments to review extractive sector concessions. “These are steps forward we should all recognize,” she noted, while cautioning that communities continue to face flooding, coastal erosion, energy poverty, and limited access to climate finance.

Further describing that “climate justice is social justice,” Johnson further noted  that solutions to combat is  must be community-led, gender-responsive, and rights-based. She outlined five priorities for the summit, including people-driven climate finance, scaling agroecology, renewable energy and land access, CAADP accountability, and disaster preparedness.

“Nothing about us without us,” Johnson urged. “Ambition is only meaningful when it is time-bound, budgeted, and publicly tracked. Let us measure success by hectares restored, women with secure land titles, youth-led enterprises financed, and communities powered by clean energy.”

Providing an overview of the summit, ActionAid Liberia Lead on the SPAC-II Project Norwu Kolu Harris told attendees that the summit is a continuation of a growing movement that started last year, 2024. 

“This is not just a summit, it is a movement,” Harris said, recounting how the 2024 summit sparked action, policy dialogue, and regional collaboration across ECOWAS and the Mano River Union.

Harris recalled the challenges facing Liberia’s farmers, women, and youth. “Our farmers were struggling with unpredictable rains, our youth were searching for jobs in a warming world, and women were asking where their voices were in decisions shaping their land and future,” Norwu recounted saying.

Wrapping up his remarks, deputy minister McGill noted that agroecology, renewable energy, and people-driven climate finance emerged as shared solutions, leading to concrete outcomes such as contributions to Liberia’s agroecology strategy and inclusive climate governance. “Voices that were once silent are now shaping national climate commitments,” Harris added.

The Summit brought together government officials,  climate activists, civil society actors, farmers, women and youth leaders, farmers’ groups, and development partners to advance dialogue and action on climate justice in Liberia