The World Bank and the Government of Liberia on Monday formally launched the Liberia component of the Health Security Program in Western and Central Africa. The $18 million multisectoral initiative is designed to strengthen the country’s capacity to prevent, detect and respond to public health threats.
Speaking at the launch, World Bank Liberia Country Manager Georgia Wallen said the new program builds on more than a decade of collaboration between Liberia and the Bank, including emergency support during the 2014 Ebola outbreak, follow-on investments through the Regional Disease Surveillance Systems Enhancement (REDISSE) project and recent assistance under the Liberia COVID 19 Project.
“The HeSP is a transformative, multisectoral initiative that draws on lessons learned from previous disease outbreaks and investments in the health sector,” Wallen said, urging implementing agencies to take full advantage of the opportunity. “The secret to the project’s success: effective collaboration.”
The program will be implemented jointly by the Ministry of Health, the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), the Ministry of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The Government of Liberia is among the first countries in the region alongside Guinea and Cabo Verde to secure World Bank financing under the program.
Wallen said the HeSP will reinforce Liberia’s health security architecture by integrating a One Health approach that recognizes links among human, animal and environmental health. The program aims to shore up disease surveillance, emergency response, vaccine delivery and other critical systems to reduce the social and economic impact of outbreaks and protect livelihoods.
“The program helps prepare Liberia for the future,” Wallen said, noting persistent vulnerabilities including deforestation, climate change and antimicrobial resistance that could fuel new health threats. She also tied the investment to Liberia’s ARREST Agenda, underscoring the role of health security in broader health and economic objectives.
Immediate priorities include deploying HeSP resources to help contain an ongoing Mpox outbreak in Liberia, according to Wallen, who called on implementing agencies to harmonize efforts and avoid duplication. She also appealed to development partners to coordinate funding and activities amid a global reduction in health aid.
Wallen stressed that the effectiveness of the program will depend on strong coordination among government ministries, public health institutions, development partners and communities. “Delivering results for the Liberian people will depend on your effective collaboration,” she said.
