As Liberia begins the domestication of the global agenda 2030, the African Agenda 2063 and the formulation of the Second Agenda for Transformation (AfT-II), representatives of the United Nations country team, including the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), has held a partnership dialogue with senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The dialogue, initiated by Foreign Minister Marjon Kamara, was intended to help government understand and facilitate the work of these UN agencies in Liberia including overcoming the challenges they encounter. 

According to a Foreign Ministry release, the partnership dialogue took place recently in the Foreign Ministry’s C. Cecil Dennis Auditorium.

As the Foreign Ministry serves as the intermediary between government and the diplomatic and consular corps including United Nations and other international agencies in fostering development diplomacy and strengthening already cordial and friendly relationship subsisting between government and development partners through regular exchanges, it was expedient that government builds synergies with partners especially the UN country team and multilateral institutions.

The departure of UNMIL requires this strong partnership with the UN country team for a smooth transition and for national implementation of development programs by the UN family in all sectors including education, health, agriculture, women and children development, youth programs and infrastructure development.

The meeting was attended by the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG), Yacoub El Ai and heads of the UN agencies in Liberia including the United Nations Children’s Agency (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO), World Food Program (WFP), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), International Organization for Migration (IOM), International Labor Organization (ILO), UN WOMEN, United Nations for Projects Services (UNOPS), United Nations Human Rights Organization (OHCHR), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and UN Resident Coordinator’s Office.

Foreign Minister Kamara was also joined in the forum by her principal deputies, including the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. B. Elias Shoniyin; Deputy Minister for Administration, Mr. Edward M. Eesiah; Deputy Minister for International Corporation and Economic Integration, Mr. Dehpue Zuo; Deputy Minister for Legal Affairs, Cllr. Deweh Gray; and Foreign Service Inspector General, Mrs. Marie Coleman.

Representatives of these UN agencies took time to brief the Foreign Minister and her senior officials about the kind of programs they are engaged with in Liberia. They also informed her about the challenges and how their partnership with the Liberian Government can be enhanced to make their work better.

Responding to all of the concerns after welcoming her guests, the Foreign Minister Kamara thanked the UN country team for their work in helping to better the living standard and conditions of Liberians.

She informed them about the importance of the dialogue so as to further strengthen the ties between the government and them. “I will forward some of your concerns to those line ministries and agencies of the government responsible for various areas of operation,” she assured.

The parties agreed to meet again in March 2017 to pursue the second partnership dialogue.