Liberia Energy Reform Gains Momentum

-Global partners pledge sustained support

As Liberia intensifies efforts to overhaul its energy sector and expand access nationwide, the World Bank has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the country’s ambitious National Energy Compact. Speaking at the launch of the Compact Delivery and Monitoring Unit (CDMU) on February 10, 2026, the World Bank Liberia Country Manager described the initiative as a critical mechanism for translating policy ambition into measurable results. The Compact, endorsed by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai at last year’s Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in Tanzania, seeks to scale up electricity access to 75 percent of Liberia’s population within five years — a target that would significantly reshape the country’s development trajectory. THE ANALYST reports.

Addressing ministers, partners, and stakeholders at the launch event, the World Bank representative said the CDMU will play an essential role in ensuring that Liberia’s energy transformation is delivered on time and at scale.

“Liberia plans to transform its energy sector over the next five years, and the CDMU will play an important role in making that happen,” the Country Manager stated.

Liberia’s National Energy Compact, described as ambitious and far-reaching, aims to expand renewable energy, improve sector performance, and provide households with clean cooking solutions. The initiative is expected to impact millions of Liberians by increasing access to reliable electricity and modern energy services.

The World Bank official emphasized that delivering on the Compact’s goals will require sustained leadership and focus, noting that systematic tracking of progress is central to success.

“It is noted that what gets measured gets done,” the Country Manager remarked, underscoring the CDMU’s purpose in monitoring implementation and maintaining accountability.

The World Bank Group (WBG) confirmed that support for Liberia’s Energy Compact is a core priority under its new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Liberia covering 2025–2030.

According to the Bank, more than 800,000 Liberians have already received access to electricity through World Bank financing.

In addition, the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) has reduced commercial losses from 48 percent in 2021 to 27 percent in 2024 — a development cited as evidence of sectoral progress.

Ongoing and planned interventions are expected to further accelerate access. The Liberia Energy Sector Strengthening and Access Project (LESSAP) is projected to provide electricity to 1.25 million people.

Similar scale-up is anticipated under the Regional Program for Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scaleup (DARES).

The World Bank also highlighted the strength of Liberia’s partnerships in advancing the energy transition.

The collaboration involves the Government of Liberia, the African Development Bank, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), and other stakeholders.

The Country Manager described the partnership as a shared commitment to enhance Liberia’s delivery capacity and sustain reform momentum.

Beyond technical targets, the Bank framed the Compact as central to Liberia’s broader development agenda.

“Beyond the numbers and targets, our collective effort is about delivering the AAID by connecting people to opportunity, powering businesses, and strengthening essential services,” the official stated.

The World Bank concluded by congratulating the Government of Liberia on the launch of the CDMU, expressing confidence that the new unit has the potential to turn Liberia’s energy ambitions into tangible improvements for households, businesses, and public institutions across the country.