Liberia accelerates decentralization to improve local governance

The Government of Liberia is working to accelerate decentralization to improve access to basic services for citizens living outside the capital, Monrovia. A High-Level Dialogue on Decentralization and Local Governance was held in Monrovia on September 16-17, 2026, to establish a practical path for devolving political, fiscal, and administrative authority to local and sub-local governments.

The discussions focused on implementing the Local Government Act of 2018, which provides the legal framework for transferring functions from the central government to the counties. Supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other development partners, the initiative aims to reduce the administrative burdens and long travel distances currently required for Liberians to obtain official documents and participate in local development decisions.