1.     Expertise France

Expertise France (EF), part of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Group, is the French public agency for international technical cooperation and the second largest cooperation agency in Europe.

EF designs and implements projects in more than 100 countries to support partner institutions in governance, public finance, health, education, climate action and gender equality. With long-standing experience in EU-funded programmes, EF has played a leading role in promoting gender equality across public administrations, notably through its implementation of the European Commission’s “Gender Flagship” projects, which supported several Member States in strengthening gender-responsive budgeting, gender impact assessments and gender mainstreaming practices.

By combining policy expertise, capacity development, and knowledge capitalisation, EF has established itself as a reference partner for advancing reforms that integrate gender equality into public policy and budgetary processes.

2.     The Project 

Liberia remains a nation in transition, grappling with the legacy of protracted conflict while striving to consolidate democratic gains and foster institutional stability. As a Least Developed Country, Liberia is characterized by significant institutional fragility and a high reliance on extractive sectors, particularly iron ore, rubber, and timber. These economic pillars, while vital for the national treasury, are frequently subject to challenges regarding transparency, sustainable management, and equitable revenue distribution. The demographic profile of the nation is exceptionally young, with approximately 78% of the population under the age of 35. This demographic "bulge" presents both a risk and an opportunity; the absence of economic stabilization and job creation efforts could lead to social unrest, while successful reforms could harness this youthful energy for national growth.

The political landscape underwent a significant shift following the peaceful democratic transition of 2023, which resulted in the inauguration of a new government in January 2024. This administration has articulated a bold commitment to anti-corruption, transparency, and comprehensive governance reforms. The central policy framework guiding this transition is the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID, 2025–2029). The AAID strategically links governance improvements, specifically the Rule of Law, with critical service delivery areas: Agriculture, Roads, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism. By ensuring that Public Financial Management (PFM) reforms directly support these policy outcomes, the government aims to maximize country ownership and deliver tangible benefits to its citizens.

To support this ambitious reform agenda, the European Union decided in December 2024 to provide a package of budget support and additional measures totaling EUR 63 million. Of this, EUR 56 million is allocated to direct budget support managed by the EU, while EUR 7 million is dedicated to additional technical assistance managed indirectly by Expertise France. The overarching objective of the budget support is to strengthen financial and economic governance while promoting sustainable management practices in the forestry and agricultural sectors. These sectors are critical for Liberia's food security and biodiversity preservation, yet they currently suffer from budget allocations that fail to meet operational needs, forcing a heavy reliance on external funding.

Overall objective:

To promote accountable and sustainable natural resources governance in Liberia through strengthened public financial management, effective domestic revenue mobilization, and an increased transparency system.

Specific objectives:

●      Specific Objective 1 (SO1): Improve the effectiveness of public financial management and domestic revenue mobilization systems.

●      Specific Objective 2 (SO2): Strengthen the framework for participation, accountability, oversight, and the fight against corruption.

Outcomes and outputs expected:

Outcome 1: Improved PFM and DRM Systems (Component 1)

●      Output 1.1: Budget preparation, execution and reporting is strengthened for increased predictability, credibility and accountability

●      Output 1.2:  Domestic revenue mobilization performance is improved, including from the natural resources sectors

Outcome 2: Strengthened Oversight and Integrity (Component 2)

●      Output 2.1: Internal and external audit systems are bolstered.

●      Output 2.2: Mechanisms for fighting against corruption are enhanced.

●      Output 2.3: SOE Accountability and Efficiency is strengthened.

●      Output 2.4: Civil Society and Public Participation are empowered for independent monitoring/oversight of public finance management.