(MONROVIA, Liberia, March 2, 2026) — The Ministry of Health (MOH), in collaboration with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and with support from Expertise France and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), has launched the Leadership, Management, Governance, and Decentralization (LMGD) Framework to strengthen health governance and improve service delivery nationwide.
The launch and dissemination event was convened under the theme: “Strengthening Health Governance for Better Health Outcomes.”
The LMGD Framework represents a comprehensive package of four core documents: the policy, implementation strategy, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and operational guidelines, designed to establish a clear vision and strategic direction for leadership and governance across all levels of Liberia’s health system.
Speaking at the launch, Health Minister Dr. Louise Mapleh Kpoto described the framework as an achievement rooted in national ownership and collaboration.
She noted that the policy is the product of more than ten months of intensive and inclusive consultations involving national and county-level stakeholders.
Dr. Kpoto expressed appreciation to Isabelle Le Guellec, the Ambassador of France to Liberia, for her leadership and continued support to Liberia’s health sector.
The Ambassador of France to Liberia described the LMGD Policy as a milestone in the partnership between France and Liberia, noting that the framework aligns with France’s Global Health Strategy, which prioritizes strengthening health systems and advancing Universal Health Coverage.
“Strengthening health governance reflects France’s conviction that strong leadership and sound management are the foundations of a resilient and sovereign health system,” the Ambassador said. She emphasized that the initiative is Liberia-led and was developed by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Internal Affairs in close collaboration with French partners.
According to the Ambassador, the framework is not merely a policy document but a comprehensive operational toolkit designed to endure beyond a single project cycle.
She disclosed that through the BEHOL and HEALTH projects, France is investing eight million euros to improve leadership, coordination, and the initial training of midwives and health managers in Liberia.
According to the Ministry, the LMGD Framework is structured around four key pillars: embedding accountability across the system; realizing decentralization in practice; ensuring effective implementation of policies; and strengthening leadership and management skills at all levels. It also emphasizes community engagement and equips managers with practical tools to make informed decisions that directly impact health outcomes.
Providing an overview of the framework, Deputy Minister for Policy and Planning, Malayah T. Chieyoe, highlighted that the documents offer standardized, day-to-day guidance for county health teams, district managers, and facility-level staff.
“Strong health systems require strong leadership at every level,” he said, adding that the LMGD documents are intended to translate national policy into operational action, from the central level to frontline facilities.
The development of the framework followed a phased approach, beginning with an evidence foundation stage from January to May 2025. This phase included assessments of 25 health facilities, six districts, three hospitals, and three county health teams, along with key informant interviews with senior MOH officials and partners.
Between June and August 2025, technical refinement was carried out through regular meetings of the Technical Working Group. A three-day policy dialogue workshop held from August 11–13, 2025, brought together more than 65 participants, including MoH leadership, officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, among them county superintendents and district commissioners, and development partners.
The process culminated in a national validation workshop held from October 7–10, 2025, during which participants unanimously endorsed all four documents.
The Ministry emphasized that the framework is fully aligned with Liberia’s National Health Policy (2022–2031), the National Health Sector Strategic Plan (2022–2026), the National Decentralization Policy, and the Universal Health Coverage Roadmap.
A key feature of the LMGD Framework is its sustainability mechanism. The Ministry reported that from November 17–29, 2025, a Training of Trainers (ToT) program was conducted to build a national pool of certified facilitators, with 36 health managers from national, county, and district levels participating.
Subsequently, from December 2–12, 2025, 50 frontline managers, including Officers-in-Charge and Community Health Services Supervisors from Montserrado, Margibi, and Nimba counties, underwent intensive training.
The Governance and Decentralization Unit of the Ministry of Health reported that 88 percent of certified trainers demonstrated significantly improved knowledge of leadership and governance principles. All trainings were delivered by newly certified national facilitators, reinforcing integration into government systems and long-term sustainability.
In formally signing the launch declaration and unveiling the framework documents, Dr. Louise M. Kpoto declared that the rollout marks the beginning of nationwide implementation across all 15 counties.
“This is not the conclusion of a project,” the Minister said, “but the start of a transformative journey toward an accountable, and decentralized health system that places every Liberian at the center of care.”