I.A.M - Magazine - Page 58
PROJECT: The Mano River Union
Road Development
SECTOR: Transport
AREA: West Africa
COMMITMENT: UA 45.5 million
In the rolling hills of Liberia’s Nimba County, a quiet but
powerful transformation is underway. What was once a
rugged, mud-laced stretch of road between Sanniquellie
and Loguatuo at the Ivorian border, is becoming a lifeline of
opportunity. Through the Mano River Union Road Development
and Transport Facilitation Programme – Phase II, the
African Development Bank is helping to rebuild not only
infrastructure, but hope.
Financed in 2018 under the ADF-14 Regional Operations
Envelope, this critical project is a cornerstone of the Bank’s
commitment to post-conflict economic recovery, regional
integration, and resilience in fragile contexts.
Stretching nearly 48 kilometers, the Sanniquellie–Loguatuo
road once stood as a barrier to progress. Now, its transformation, complete with fully paved dual lanes, robust drainage, road safety features, reconstructed bridges, and
upgraded culverts, is drastically reducing transport costs
and travel times. Eight bridges, 12 new culverts, and 77
replacements demonstrate the scale of change. For
traders, farmers, and families in the region, the difference
is palpable - goods are moving faster, services are reaching farther, and communities are becoming more connected than ever before.
Supporting Economic Diversification
This project is more than just a road, it is paving the way for
an inclusive economic revival. It is unlocking new potential
for agriculture by opening access to markets and linking
rural producers with regional trade routes. Aligned with
Pillar Two of Liberia’s Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and
Development (PAPD), it is driving job creation, increasing
mobility, and supporting economic diversification precisely the kind of infrastructure that builds peace
through prosperity.
Women and youth, especially, are finding new livelihood
opportunities in transport services, roadside markets, and
trade logistics. The road is also improving access to
schools, clinics, and administrative services, sparking both
social and economic resilience in communities that have
long felt isolated.
Regional Trade Artery
Generative AI for Illustration Purposes Only
This work is part of a broader vision. The success of Phase
II has laid the foundation for Phase III, approved under
ADF-15, which will connect Zwedru in Liberia to the
Makona River in Guinea through Koindu in Sierra Leone.
With plans for bonded customs warehouses and streamlined border procedures, the corridor is set to become a
key regional trade artery. This year, its results are expected
to be nothing short of transformative. Liberia’s GDP per
capita growth is projected to more than double, poverty in
project areas should fall from 54% to 40%, and trade
between Sierra Leone and Liberia is anticipated to almost
triple.
In every kilometer of this road, lies a deeper journey toward
integration, resilience, and shared prosperity. The Bank’s
vision of a connected, thriving Mano River Union region is
taking shape, one road at a time.
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