World Bank Country Manager Georgia Wallen urged Liberian policymakers, development partners and private-sector actors on Tuesday to accelerate the country’s digital transformation by strengthening infrastructure, cybersecurity and digital skills during opening remarks at Digital Liberia Week 2025.
Wallen said the event reflects Liberia’s growing determination to “harness digital technology as a driver of inclusion, efficiency, and accountability” and called on participants to shape a digital future that “connects technology with opportunity for every Liberian.”
“Digital technologies are not just tools — they are enablers of better governance, private investment, and job creation,” Wallen said in the capital Monrovia.
She said success depends on getting the fundamentals right: reliable networks, resilient systems and effective institutions that foster competition and accountability. The World Bank official warned that connectivity without trust will not deliver results, underscoring the importance of cybersecurity, data protection and digital accountability to build confidence in the digital economy.
Wallen highlighted the human dimension of digital transformation, saying technology must expand opportunities for farmers, entrepreneurs, youth and women.
She applauded partnerships across government ministries — including Education, Youth and Sports, Agriculture, and Posts and Telecommunications — to boost digital literacy, align technical and vocational training with market demand, and enable sector-specific innovation.
The World Bank Country Manager also outlined the institution’s support, noting the imminent launch of a new Country Partnership Framework and pointing to existing and planned programs: the Governance Reform and Accountability Transformation (GREAT) Project, which is modernizing governance and expanding digital service delivery; the Liberia Investment, Finance and Trade (LIFT) Project, which seeks to deepen financial inclusion and support small businesses; and the forthcoming West Africa Regional Digital Integration (WARDIP) Program aimed at strengthening the regional digital ecosystem.
Wallen encouraged attendees to use the week to build networks, foster partnerships and translate ideas into action, closing with a rallying slogan for the initiative: “Digital Liberia — Empowering People, Powering Progress, Enabling Growth.”
The event drew senior government officials, including Senator Dopoh and the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, development partners and representatives from civil society and the private sector. Digital Liberia Week runs through the week with sessions designed to advance policy, investment and skills needed to scale the country’s digital agenda.
