Promoting mobility and expertise in the construction sector

Context

Liberia has a poor road network, which does not cover all regions of the country. This hinders access to important state services like education and healthcare.

There is also a lack of skilled workers in Liberia, and the unemployment rate among young people is high. The construction industry – one of the fastest-growing economic sectors in the country – has significant potential to create jobs for young people and improve the country’s road network.

Objective

Liberia’s road network (and its management) has improved significantly.

Approach

The project promotes an improved road network and jobs in the construction industry in three ways:

• It supports the Liberian Ministry of Public Works in developing and expanding expertise in organising road construction and maintenance and awarding public construction contracts transparently.
• Furthermore, it provides funding and advisory services to set up a private vocational school that offers young people training in construction trades.
• It also supports the umbrella associations of Liberia’s construction industry in developing their expertise. Small and medium-sized construction companies in the country receive training to increase their competitiveness.

The establishment of the vocational school and the training courses for construction companies are co-financed by the European Union.

Last update: August 2023