Liberia received $65.2 million in development assistance in the first quarter of its fiscal year, or about 20% of the $322.6 million projected for 2026, as donor fatigue and global tensions slowed funding flows, according to government data.
The West African nation expects $322,558,238 in external support this fiscal year from 12 development partners, but only six partners disbursed funds by the end of March, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning said in a report. Actual disbursements fell 4% from $65.6 million in the same period a year earlier.
The decline was attributed to “donor fatigue exacerbated by the war in Ukraine and other global tensions,” the report said.
Of the total projected aid for FY2026, 59% is expected as grants and 41% as loans. Multilateral partners account for 70% of the projected envelope, while bilateral donors make up the remaining 30%.
Health received the largest share of the aid projection at $73.3 million, or 22.7% of the total, followed by public administration at $71.1 million and agriculture at $41.2 million. Other major sectors include infrastructure and basic services, education and social development services.
Despite the large aid forecast, no disbursements were recorded in the first quarter under budget support, trust fund or pooled fund arrangements. All of the money received came through project and program aid, with grants accounting for $28 million and loans $37.2 million.
The government said off-budget project aid represented 77% of projected external assistance, underscoring the continued reliance on donor-funded initiatives implemented through ministries, agencies and nongovernmental organizations.
– Festus Poquie
