Liberia, EU Sign US$50.8m ‘State Building Contract’

GOL, EU Sign US$50.8m ‘State Building Contract’

MONROVIA—(LINA) The Liberian Government Monday signed a US$50.8 million “State Building Contract” with the European Union (EU) as part of EU’s cooperation program with Liberia.

Finance and Development Planning Minister Amara Konneh signed the contract on behalf of the government in the presence of the European Union Ambassador, Tiina Intelmann, according to an EU release issued Monday.

The release indicated that the program will provide funds to the national budget with a focus on critical health services during and after the Ebola crisis, building justice and security services in anticipation of UNMIL’s drawdown and improving the country’s management of public funds.

According to the release, the program has been carefully designed and agreed with the Government of Liberia and those who will have to contribute to its success, the Ministers of Finance, Justice and the Judiciary

It will align with the Government’s own objectives of improved budget management, and contribute to increased budgetary allocations to health services, after the Ebola outbreak, and justice and security services, in anticipation of UNMIL’s drawdown, the release noted.

The release indicated that the program will also ensure oversight of proper police behaviour and increased prosecution of sexual and gender-based violence.

“I commit today to make the best possible use of this money which has so generously been donated by European citizens, so it can benefit those who it is intended to reach, the Liberian people, and amongst them those most dependent on basic public services, the poorest and weakest like people in need of health services, protection, women and including the people outside of Monrovia,” Konneh said briefly after signing the contract.

Speaking on behalf of the EU, Intelmann said: “This project is the first of the wider EUR 279M (approx. 315m USD) Liberia – EU multi-year programme that was signed in Brussels, in the presence of Mme President earlier in March, during the International Ebola Recovery Conference.”

She added: “With this signature today I am happy to confirm that the European Union has kept its promise to accelerate the support to Liberia and to contribute to the National Recovery Plan, in the wake of the Ebola crisis, in order to achieve peace and stability and accelerate equitable development. We encourage the Government of Liberia to make a real difference to your people in the use of this money.”

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