MFDP Nears Fiscal Decentralization-Holds Crucial Validation Program Today

MONROVIA – The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) through the Fiscal Decentralization Unit is poised to convene a pivotal high-level validation session on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, to finalize the Financial and Operational Manual on Fiscal Decentralization for local governments—an essential milestone in advancing robust, accountable county-level financial governance nationwide.

The impending validation follows the successful conclusion of the Second Technical Session on County Treasury Reform in Grand Bassa County, where stakeholders engaged in three days of rigorous analysis, technical review, and strategic deliberations on the revised County Treasury Financial and Operational Manual.

Ahead of the session, Dr. Romeo Gbartea, Director of the Fiscal Decentralization Unit at MFDP, underscored the significance of the exercise, describing it as a defining moment in consolidating a credible, resilient, and future-ready decentralization framework.

According to Dr. Gbartea, the manual provides a comprehensive and authoritative blueprint for the establishment and efficient management of county treasuries, fully aligned with Liberia’s Revenue Sharing Regulations. He disclosed that four county treasuries are already operational, with an ambitious expansion plan targeting six additional counties in 2026.

“We are making strong, measurable strides toward decentralizing Liberia’s financial system,” Dr. Gbartea asserted. “This validation will ensure the manual meets the highest technical benchmarks while remaining practical and responsive to the realities of local governance.”

He further emphasized that the reform agenda encompasses the construction of modern treasury facilities, the rehabilitation of existing infrastructure, and the rollout of advanced digital financial management systems aimed at boosting transparency, speed, and operational efficiency.

“We are transitioning to a fully digital ecosystem—where documents are scanned, uploaded, and processed seamlessly,” he explained. “This transformation will significantly cut delays and elevate service delivery across counties.”

Dr. Gbartea also highlighted that the success of the initiative hinges on the strategic deployment of critical financial personnel—including budget officers, internal auditors, and procurement specialists—to reinforce accountability and institutional effectiveness at the county level.

Describing the validation as a highly technical and collaborative undertaking, he noted that it will bring together senior policymakers and sector experts to rigorously scrutinize, refine, and formally endorse the manual.

“This is not a political undertaking; it is a deeply technical process that requires precision, expertise, and collective ownership,” he stressed. “Our goal is to produce a durable framework capable of guiding fiscal decentralization for years to come.”

The county treasury reform initiative forms part of a broader long-term national agenda designed to build sustainable local capacity over a ten-year horizon, ultimately enabling counties to independently manage their fiscal operations and revenue systems.

The validation session, scheduled to take place at the MFDP headquarters in Monrovia, is expected to unlock the final phase leading to the formal adoption and full-scale nationwide rollout of the manual.

Stakeholders expected at the validation are the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), Ministry of Local Governments (MLG), Liberia Revenue Authority (MLG), Internal Audit Agency (IAA), and the Public Procurement Concession Commission (PPCC).