UNICEF’s Regional Director has Praised Liberia for its Dedication to Child Welfare and Urged Swift Advancements

MONROVIA, LIBERIA: The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Gile Fagninou, has praised Liberia’s strong commitment to child welfare, urging stakeholders to accelerate progress based on lessons learned over the past five years.

Fagninou is visiting Liberia this week to engage with government officials, development partners, and civil society organizations.

His mission is to accelerate efforts aimed at improving the lives and well-being of children across the country.

During a media briefing held Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at the One UN House in Monrovia, he reviewed Liberia’s achievements and outlined plans to further strengthen child health, education, and protection programs.

Fagninou highlighted encouraging developments in education and health, noting increased school enrollment and a decline in child mortality rates. However, he cautioned that demographic growth means the absolute number of out-of-school children continues to rise.

“The good news is that everywhere I have been, I see a high interest in children, actually the future of this country,” he said. “The government is aware of the challenges and is taking steps, including the Back to School campaign and school feeding programs supported by WFP, to keep children in school.”

He emphasized that issues such as teacher absenteeism and the quality of education remain challenges that require collective action. “It’s good that all those responsible for these sectors are aware of the issues, and they are working on it,” Fagninou added.

The UNICEF official explained that a major goal of his visit was to evaluate progress and identify ways to accelerate results for children in the coming years, revealing that UNICEF is preparing to launch a new transformative program, soon to be approved by its Executive Board, to boost efforts in key child welfare sectors.

Highlighting Liberia’s ambitious targets, Fagninou said the Back to School campaign aims to return 250,000 primary school-aged children to classrooms by 2027.

He noted this campaign’s uniqueness lies in its multi-sectoral approach, involving not only the Ministry of Education but also parents, students, lawmakers, and other stakeholders.

In a related development, UNICEF Representative to Liberia Andy Brooks praised the integration of County Development Agendas into the national development framework, describing it as a “transformative step” that ensures counties feel included in Liberia’s national vision.

Brooks also spotlighted adolescent centers operating nationwide that provide education and vocational training to help young people gain self-sufficiency.

 “There are 17 centers all over the country,” he said, describing visits to several in Margibi, Rivercess, and Grand Bassa counties alongside the Minister of Youth and Sports.

He underlined efforts to keep girls in school through closer coordination between guidance counselors and social workers to identify at-risk girls early and prevent dropout.

“I’m very convinced that the issue of female teachers is critical. If girls do not see female role models in school, it can be discouraging,” Brooks said, highlighting ongoing teacher training initiatives aimed at increasing the number of women educators.

He further addressed child labor concerns, referencing a new action plan developed in collaboration with the International Labor Organization to tackle the worst forms of child exploitation, including children living and working on the streets.

“These children should be in school,” he stated, noting that rehabilitation programs target the most vulnerable families to ensure children are supported and protected.

Both UNICEF officials reaffirmed their commitment to work closely with Liberia’s government and partners to ensure that every child has access to education, health, and protection services.

The Regional Director will spend the rest of the week engaging in policy talks and visiting project sites in Montserrado and nearby counties.