Ireland's relationship with Liberia

Ireland’s links with Liberia stretch back over a number of decades, from the early activity of Irish Missionaries working in education, to the Defence Force’s peacekeeping presence. Both are well remembered in Liberia and have contributed to a strong relationship between our two nations.

Ireland has a positive reputation as a partner in Sierra Leone, as an important advocate of credible and peaceful elections and as a champion for women’s political participation.

Today these connections continue through the small but active Irish community, many of whom are involved in development work.

From 2003-2007, Irish peacekeepers were a key part of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) which supported Liberia's transition after civil war to a peaceful, multi-party democratic country.

Ireland’s international development programme in Liberia was established through a Development Office in 2005, following the end of the second Liberian civil war. Through the Programme, we have been supporting health services, gender equality and the governance and security sector for over a decade.

The Development Office was upgraded to an Embassy in June 2018, as part of Ireland’s commitment under the Global Ireland 2025 initiative. The appointment of a resident Ambassador in 2024 has strengthened our visibility and profile in Liberia.

A new five-year Embassy Strategy for Liberia (2024-2028) was approved in April 2024, and focus areas include supporting accountable institutions and civil society, supporting access to SRHR, increasing food and nutrition security, promoting resilience to the impacts of climate change, and strengthening political and economic links.

Development initiatives

Ireland has invested in development initiatives both through programmes funded directly by the Embassy and through partnerships with Irish and International NGOs, UN agencies and local NGOs and CSOs. Ireland’s overall development assistance for Liberia is expected to reach €7.5m in 2025.

A combination of positive working relationships with like-minded development partners, strong links with civil society, a highly active role in public diplomacy, as well as an ability to be more agile with funding has given Ireland a strong profile in Liberia. Ireland has significant access to government and development partners in the sectors where we have long focused - governance, gender equality, and nutrition.

The Embassy small grants programme is also a valuable funding stream for our development objectives and visibility, focusing on small, local organisations that are often youth-led.

Ireland and Liberia enjoy a modest relationship in goods trade, reaching €6 million in 2024. The main categories of exports include meat, fish, dairy, eggs, food preparations, and cleaning, cosmetic and flavouring products.

Ireland has provided approximately €31.55m in direct development funding to Liberia between 2020 and 2024. The work of the Embassy development programme is strongly influenced by Ireland’s support to civil society partners working in Liberia. These partners are using Ireland’s funding for long-term development initiatives in Liberia, with a focus on the areas of nutrition, health and human rights.

Funded initiatives

To increase rural economic development and food security, Ireland funds Concern’s long-term development programmes in Grand Bassa and Rivercess counties, for people living in extremely poor households.

Since 2020, Sightsavers Ireland has allocated over €1.6m in funding to strengthen sustainable eye health systems in communities in Lofa, Bong, Nimba, Grand Gedeh, Sinoe, Rivergee, Grand Kru, and Maryland counties, as well as Monrovia.

Over €550,000 has been allocated by the Carter Center to its projects in Liberia since 2020, including €400,000 for a two-year project, ‘Promoting and protecting women’s right of access to information in West Africa’. The most recent project in Liberia focussed on improving access to information for women in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Over €100,000 was provided by Misean Cara for projects in Liberia from 2020 to 2023, with a particular focus on human rights and ending violence against women. Misean Cara supports the development related work of Irish missionary organisations and congregations.

Over €35,000 in funding has been provided to the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) for activities in Liberia since 2020.

The economic funding provided by Ireland helps to promote and protect human rights while also strengthening human rights systems, and leading and participating in coalitions for human rights change.

Since the appointment of a resident Ambassador, the community links between Ireland and Liberia are growing. The Embassy promotes Irish-Liberia links through bilateral engagements at ministerial level and through cultural events around St Patrick’s Day, with the participation of Irish musicians and high-level guests.

Under the Irish Fellowship Programme (IFP), over 30 Liberian students have been supported to attend a postgraduate educational programme in Ireland since 2018. Ten students are currently studying in Ireland as Fellows.