Liberia Urban Resilience Project

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With a gross national income per capita of just US$570 in 2020, Liberia is among the ten poorest countries in the world, however, the country is now projecting a growth trajectory, despite multiple setbacks over the past three decades. Liberia’s basic infrastructure and social services remain affected by the civil wars, resulting in poor living conditions for most of the population. Greater Monrovia is the largest agglomeration in Liberia, but decades of conflict have stalled investments and development. Liberian cities are particularly vulnerable to climate change due to the low-lying, flat topography and lack of adequate drainage. Primary and secondary cities have no functional drainage systems and lack urban management and development capacities.The Country Partnership Framework (CPF) is supporting Liberia’s pro-poor growth agenda through three pillars and the project will specifically contribute to Pillar 3 (narrowing the infrastructure gap to foster equitable development) and CPF pillar 1 (strengthening institutions and creating an enabling environment for inclusive and sustainable growth).Component 1: Climate Resilience Infrastructure and Urban Upgrading. This component will support comprehensive upgrading, flood risk management, and improved service delivery in prioritized areas of Greater Monrovia. Investments in drainage infrastructure that improve the connectivity of drainage networks are prioritized to reduce climate and flood risk. Associated neighborhood and market upgrading interventions to improve living and working conditions and access to public services will be covered as well. Subcomponent 1.1 (Climate and Flood Risk Management Infrastructure) will support climate and flood risk management in prioritized areas of Greater Monrovia. It will finance the rehabilitation of existing and construction of new drainage infrastructure in selected areas. Subcomponent 1.2 (Climate Resilient Community and Market Upgrading) will finance community infrastructure investments in neighborhoods and market areas in the same locations as the drainage and water retention infrastructure. Component 2: Strengthening Integrated Resilient Urban Development Capacity (US$6 million). This Component will support resilient integrated spatial planning, capacity needs assessment and investment plans in Greater Monrovia as well as the next three largest cities in Liberia, Buchanan, Gbarnga and Ganta. Subcomponent 2.1 (Resilient Urban Planning and Development Control) will finance activities to increase the capacities of relevant stakeholders to develop, maintain and update a climate resilient spatial development plan. Subcomponent 2.2 (Solid Waste Management Operations and Financing) will finance the development of a Solid Waste Management Operational Plan for the Greater Monrovia Area and primary as well as secondary cties that will include a detailed financial model, private sector engagement plan and inform the operational needs of the system. Component 3: Project Management (US$4 million). This component will finance all expenses required for project management and coordination, compliance monitoring of social, environmental, and safety standards, fiduciary management, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E). Component 4: Contingency Emergency Response Component (CERC) (US$0 million). Following an eligible crisis or emergency, the Borrower may request the Bank to re-allocate project funds to support emergency response and reconstruction.