By: Contributing Writer
GRAND BASSA COUNTY – ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML), in collaboration with the Government of Liberia, has officially launched the 2025 cycle of its Community Development Fund (CDF), reaffirming its commitment to empowering communities and fostering sustainable development across its operational counties.
The official launch event was held on Friday, May 23, 2025, at the K-Plaza Hotel in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County.
It brought together over 50 key stakeholders, including representatives from AML, local government officials, district lawmakers, civil society actors, and community leaders from the fenceline areas of Nimba, Bong, and Grand Bassa counties.
Established in August 2020 as part of AML’s Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) with the Government of Liberia, the CDF is funded through 20 percent of AML’s annual $3 million contribution to the County Social Development Fund (CSDF).
The fund is allocated based on AML’s operational footprint: Nimba receives 50 percent, Grand Bassa 33.3 percent, and Bong County 16.7 percent.
Governed by jointly developed Management Guidelines, the CDF is designed to ensure transparency and accountability in project selection, implementation, reporting, and monitoring.
These guidelines provide a clear framework for aligning resource use with community development priorities.
During the launch, stakeholders reviewed the implementation report for the 2024 funding cycle and engaged in robust discussions on ongoing and upcoming projects.
Participants also endorsed proposed amendments to the CDF Management Guidelines and made key recommendations to enhance governance and execution.
The event also provided an opportunity to assess the impact of past CDF-funded initiatives.
Since its inception, the Fund has supported the completion of more than 30 infrastructure projects, including the construction of roads, bridges, schools, clinics, health centers, and town halls across the three beneficiary counties.
In remarks at the event, AML representatives reiterated the company’s commitment to improving the lives of Liberians in its host communities. They emphasized the CDF’s vital role in delivering visible development outcomes and fostering community ownership of projects.
Local leaders and county officials praised the initiative as a model for effective concession-community collaboration. They also underscored the importance of continued partnership to ensure timely and high-quality execution of the 2025 projects.
With the new funding cycle officially launched, implementation of selected projects is set to begin shortly, guided by lessons learned from previous cycles and strengthened by an improved governance framework focused on transparency, accountability, and impact.
ArcelorMittal Liberia is the country’s leading mining company. As part of its corporate social responsibility commitments, the company contributes $3 million annually to the County Social Development Fund to support development initiatives in Nimba, Grand Bassa, and Bong counties—regions directly impacted by its operations. Each year, Nimba receives $1.5 million, Grand Bassa $1 million, and Bong County $500,000.
However, for many years, these substantial funds did not always directly benefit communities closest to AML’s operations—particularly those along the railway corridor and in the mountainous mining areas of Nimba.
To address this gap, AML and the Government of Liberia agreed in 2020 to withhold 20 percent of each county’s CSDF allocation to directly implement projects in the most affected “fenceline” communities.
This initiative ensures that development resources reach those most impacted by mining activities, while also reinforcing AML’s proactive commitment to inclusive, equitable, and accountable development.
By aligning its social investments with the real needs of host communities, ArcelorMittal Liberia continues to strengthen its reputation as a responsible corporate partner and a driving force for sustainable development in Liberia.
