Orange Liberia and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that sets the stage for a major push toward digital inclusion, youth empowerment, and innovation in Liberia.
The agreement was signed at the Orange Liberia Headquarters on 16th Street, Sinkor, bringing together representatives from both institutions, development partners, and government officials—marking a milestone moment for Liberia’s digital future.
A Partnership Months in the Making
Providing an overview of the collaboration, the Senior Manager of the Orange Digital Center (ODC), Mr. Zaza Mulbah, described the MOU as the result of months of meaningful dialogue and intentional planning.
“Today is not just about witnessing a signing; it’s about formalizing a shared vision for Liberia’s digital future,” Mulbah stated.
He highlighted three key pillars of the partnership:
1. Scaling Digital Skills for Youth — Especially Young Women
The program will strengthen digital literacy training to ensure Liberian youth transition from being consumers of technology to becoming creators, innovators, and builders in the digital economy.
2. Supporting Local Tech Startups
Through mentorship, incubation programs, and seed funding, the partnership aims to accelerate the growth of Liberia’s tech ecosystem.
3. Expanding Access to Digital Tools & Green Technologies
A major focus will be improving digital access in underserved and rural communities, ensuring no Liberian is left behind in the digital revolution.
Mulbah added that both institutions had held several forward-thinking discussions in the past months, which ultimately laid the foundation for this transformative agreement.
A Shared Mission for National Impact
Speaking on behalf of Orange Liberia CEO Jean Marius Yao, Chief Financial Officer Mr. Hossen Fofana reaffirmed Orange Liberia’s dedication to using technology as a tool for opportunity and inclusion.
“This signing goes beyond formality, it symbolizes our shared ambition to make innovation a real driver of inclusive and sustainable growth in Liberia,” Fofana noted.
He emphasized Orange’s mission to empower women, youth, and vulnerable communities by expanding access to technology, skills, and life-changing opportunities.
Fofana further revealed ongoing collaborative initiatives between Orange Liberia and UNDP, including:
“At Orange, we are caring, bold, and responsible,” he said. “We care because we invest in people; we are bold because we take decisive steps to close the digital divide; and we are responsible because we turn innovation into opportunity.”
UNDP: 'A Milestone Partnership for National Transformation'
UNDP Liberia Resident Representative Mr. Aliou Mamadou Dia celebrated the partnership as a powerful step toward expanding digital opportunities nationwide.
“This MOU marks the beginning of a shared journey to unlock innovation and empower Liberia’s youth to shape their country’s future,” Dia said.
He noted that UNDP is already supporting the Government of Liberia through several initiatives, including upcoming high-level training in:
“We cannot do it alone,” he emphasized. “That’s why this collaboration with Orange is so vital—to combine our strengths, reach rural communities, and ensure young people across Liberia can benefit from digital opportunities.”
Dia highlighted that the partnership echoes national development priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly goals around education, decent work, innovation, and strong institutions.
“This is about creating opportunities for a young woman in Zwedru to learn coding, for an entrepreneur in Buchanan to scale a business, and for a youth in Lofa to innovate solutions for agriculture and climate resilience,” he added.
Government Praises the Collaboration
Executive Director of the Governance Commission, Mr. Jallah C. Kesselly, described the partnership as “a bright day for Liberia.”
“Seeing a leading private sector institution partner with UNDP to expand connectivity and support youth innovation is inspiring,” he said.
Kesselly noted that the partnership demonstrates genuine commitment to national development, especially during a period when youth unemployment and social challenges remain pressing concerns. He assured both Orange Liberia and UNDP of the Commission’s support in driving digital inclusion and youth development.
Moving From Vision to Action
As the signing ceremony concluded, both Orange Liberia and UNDP reaffirmed their commitment to turning the MOU into real, measurable impact.
With digital skills development, entrepreneurship support, and expanded rural digital access at the core of the partnership, this collaboration marks a significant step toward building a more inclusive, innovative, and empowered Liberia.
Together, Orange Liberia and UNDP are not just planning for the future—they are actively shaping it.
