GoL, Partners End Zoning Act Validation -Efficient and Effective Land development, Management in Offing

By H Matthew Turry

MONROVIA – The Government of Liberia (GOL) and partners, including the World Bank, yesterday, Monday, October 21, 2024, concluded a day-long validation session of the recently drafted Zoning Act for Liberia.

Speaking at the program, the Minister of Public Works Roland Layfette Giddings said the draft legislation, introduced by the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) through the World Bank-financed Liberia Urban Resilience Project (LURP), is intended to address the numerous challenges and limitations presented by the current Zoning Law of Liberia enacted in 1958.

According to Minister Giddings, Liberia had a zoning law which was not really elaborate to deal with some of the contemporary challenges, especially when it comes to urban planning.

The Public Works boss told said the draft law, when ratified by the Legislature, will promote efficient and effective land development and management in Liberia and help to address the many zoning issues presently confronting the country.

The revision of the Zoning Law is among several urban policy reform initiatives and landmark infrastructure investments anticipated under the LURP launched in June 2023.

He said urban planning is very key to social and economic development in any country for the matter of fact, “if you have to deliver goods and services, if you have to enhance economic growth, if you have to enhance security, if you have to also enhance environmental sustainability”.

He added: “We have to create the kind of coordination collaboration to ensure that this is implemented to enhance the urban planning we need for economic growth and development for our country.”

The validation exercise brought together stakeholders from across including representatives from municipalities across the country and those from government ministries and agencies whose functions impact land development and urbanization either directly or indirectly.

Giddings noted further that the project aims to address Liberia’s pressing challenges related to flooding, climate risks, and urban management deficiencies through a US$40 million World Bank endowment.

“The project will invest in climate-resilient infrastructure to reduce flooding, climate risks, and increase access to basic services in Monrovia, in line with the government’s ARREST Agenda, while also enhancing urban management capacities,” he asserted.

He claimed that the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) is leading the implementation of the project with the support of various government ministries, agencies, and townships.

Stakeholders involved include the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), alongside the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC), the Paynesville City Corporation (PCC), the Liberia Land Authority, and the Liberia Institute for Statistics and Geo-Information Services.