MONROVIA – The African Road Maintenance Funds Association (ARMFA) beginning today will officially host its 22nd General Assembly in Monrovia, Liberia, bringing together leading figures in road infrastructure financing and management to tackle the pressing challenges of funding and maintaining resilient road networks across Africa. With a membership spanning 35 countries, ARMFA serves as the premier body for collaboration on road maintenance funding on the continent, and Liberia’s selection as the host nation marks a significant moment for the country’s growing role in regional infrastructure discourse. With many African countries struggling to maintain and expand their road networks in the face of climate change, population growth, and economic development, the assembly provides a crucial platform for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and problem-solving among member countries. As The Analyst reports, ARMFA Monrovia Confab will be officially commencing its deliberations November 17.
The week-long event, hosted by Liberia’s National Road Fund (NRF), brings together leading figures in road infrastructure financing and management from across Africa to tackle the pressing challenges of funding and maintaining resilient road networks on the continent.
Themed “Innovative Financing and Sustainability of Road Infrastructure in the Face of Climate and Mobility Challenges in Africa,” the assembly serves as a platform for collaboration and knowledge sharing among member countries. ARMFA, with a membership spanning 35 countries, is the premier body for collaboration on road maintenance funding in Africa.
Liberia’s selection as the host nation marks a significant moment for the country’s growing role in regional infrastructure discourse.
The Manager of the National Road Fund of Liberia, Mrs. Joseta Neufville -Wento, has extended a warm welcome to delegates attending the 22nd General Assembly of the African Road Maintenance Funds Association (ARMFA) in Monrovia. In her welcome address, she expressed her delight and honor in hosting the event.
An apparently upbeat NRF-Liberia CEO said: “It is with great delight and honor and on behalf of the National Road Fund of Liberia and Government of Liberia to welcome you to Monrovia, our capital for the 22nd ARMFA General Assembly. Our utmost appreciation to the general membership of ARMFA for selecting Liberia to host an honorable convergence of Africa’s change makers in the infrastructure sector- particularly road.”
Mrs. Wento assured delegates of the NRF’s commitment to working with the ARMFA secretariat and all delegates to ensure a successful assembly.
“As we prepare for this year’s general assembly, as the Head of the National Road Fund of Liberia, we stand committed to working with the ARMFA secretariat and all delegates to host a successful assembly- thus giving every participant the chance to explore and enjoy the beauty our country, Liberia, offers. We promise to make your stay in Liberia a memorable one.”
She highlighted the significance of the assembly’s theme, “Innovative Financing and Sustainability of Road Infrastructure in the Face of Climate and Mobility Challenges in Africa,” noting that it underscores the importance of road infrastructure financing as a key driver of Africa’s development and economic integration.
Mrs. Wento expressed gratitude for the opportunity to host the conference, saying, “Again, on behalf of the National Road Fund of Liberia, and the ARMFA Secretariat, I want to thank you for the opportunity to host this great conference. Our nation is humbled by this opportunity. We believe that your presence will contribute to strengthened partnerships and help foster innovative solutions beneficial to our respective countries, organizations and the continent of Africa holistically.”
Also in a statement posted on ARMFA website ahead of the conference, welcoming delegates to the 22nd General Assembly of the African Road Maintenance Funds Association (ARMFA), President Mr. Essaie Moussa Aubin extended a warm invitation to participants, saying:
“Dear participants, dear partners, dear sponsors, Africa is moving forward. Its roads, the vital arteries of our development, must keep pace. It is in this spirit that I have the pleasure and honor of inviting you to the 22nd General Assembly of the African Road Maintenance Funds Association (ARMFA), which will be held from 17 to 20 November 2025 in Monrovia, Republic of Liberia.”
Mr. Aubin highlighted the significance of the assembly, noting that it will take place in a continental context that is both demanding and full of opportunities.
He emphasized the importance of the theme, “Innovative Financing and Sustainability of Road Infrastructure in the Face of Climate Change and Mobility Challenges in Africa,” which will guide reflections around three key pillars: financing, sustainability, and addressing climate change and mobility challenges.
The ARMFA President encouraged active participation and institutional or financial support. “We invite you to be part of this dynamic initiative. Whether you are decision-makers, donors, technical experts, civil society representatives, or from the private sector, your voice matters. Your engagement is essential.”
Mr. Aubin concluded by expressing his confidence in the event’s potential, saying, “This General Assembly will be much more than a statutory meeting: It will be a laboratory of ideas, a crossroads of solutions, and a catalyst for tangible partnerships… JOIN US IN MONROVIA TO SHAPE TOGETHER THE ROAD OF TOMORROW.”
Delegates will work together to shape policies and partnerships that will build durable, climate-resilient, and economically vibrant road networks essential for Africa’s future.
Liberia’s road network, comprising 13,026 kilometers of roads, faces significant challenges, with only an estimated 1,211 kilometers (11.2%) paved and roughly 40% of rural roads classified as “inaccessible.”
The government, through the Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), has outlined ambitious plans to improve road connectivity across the country, prioritizing sustainable improvements to the national road network.
The government’s development plan prioritizes the expansion, rehabilitation, and maintenance of primary, secondary, and feeder roads, as well as the establishment of the National Road Authority.
Key objectives include paving at least 485 km of primary roads with asphalt, rehabilitating and maintaining at least 445 km of the primary road network, and expanding, rehabilitating, and maintaining at least 1,090 km of the secondary road network.
The event is organized under the auspices of the National Road Fund Liberia in close collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.
With a focus on tangible outcomes, the assembly is positioned as a working forum for delegates to collectively shape the policies and partnerships that will drive Africa’s infrastructure development.