Statement by H.E. Ambassador ISHIKANE Kimihiro, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) Liberia Country-Specific Configuration, Ambassadorial-level Meeting on the Impact of COVID-19 on Liberia

Thank you Madam Chair,
 
We had a very good discussion last Wednesday at the PBC. One of the takeaways was to hold country-specific meetings to put all ongoing and planned multilateral and bilateral assistance on the table so that all of us are able to see what everyone else is doing or going to do. Another takeaway was to compile best practices and examples to respond better to the crisis.
 
In both respects, today’s meeting is most timely in which I am really grateful to Ambassador Eneström. Liberia has been in the process of building back better after the civil war and the Ebola outbreak. Now COVID-19 poses a further complex challenge to human security in the country.
 
While our annual ODA cooperation with Liberia stands around 19-20 million US dollars per year, Japan has recently extended 270 thousand USD through UNICEF for health and capacity building cooperation and is now considering additional support to African countries through supplementary budget to be discussed at the Diet. We are trying to stand by the Liberian people to the best we can.
 
But, here today, I am glad to share with you some lessons learned from Japan’s experience in Liberia affected by the Ebola crisis, which had serious socio-economic implications beyond public health challenge. To cope with such human security crisis, where people’s dignity is at stake, a people-centered and comprehensive approach is essential. That is important to sustain the people’s confidence in the government.
 
From this standpoint, we have supported a multi-agency programme in Liberia from 2014 to 2017 through our contribution to the UN Trust Fund for Human Security. It helped strengthen the health system, empowered women in the agricultural sector and provided employment and food security in the affected communities. Japan also partnered with UN agencies such as FAO, UNIDO and UNICEF to build Liberia’s capacity in agriculture, fishery and other sectors as well as youth employment.
 
Bilaterally, Japan sent medical aid to help Liberia combat the public health emergency, but has also been supporting the country's mid- to long-term efforts to build back better from the civil war and the Ebola crisis. We helped strengthen the national and local health care systems, provided capacity-building and supported the development of domestic industries and transportation infrastructure through JICA’s grant and technical assistance.
 
In this challenging time, the PBC needs to keep supporting the Liberian government as it seeks to achieve the “Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development” and the SDGs, where the ‘humanitarian-development-peace nexus’ is at stake.
 
I thank you, Madam Chair.