The low levels of schooling and limited access to education by the poor adversely affect educational attainment in Liberia. While 48 percent of children between the ages of 6 and 11 from better-off Liberian households and those in urban areas attend primary school, this number stands at 26 percent for children from poorer households and those in rural areas. ​

The median young woman from a poor rural household has just 1.8 years of formal education. A lack of money, distance to the nearest school, and early marriages are often cited by parents as barriers for their children to access education. Only 29 percent of preschool-age children are enrolled in early childhood education (ECE) programs, and as many as eight out of every 10 of those enrolled in ECE are over the appropriate age and should be enrolled in primary school.​

Implementing social protection system can enhance access to quality education and market-relevant skills for youth, improved maternal and child health, and support accumulation of human capital and other productive assets by the poor. ​

By investing in social protection (SDG 1.3) , Liberia can support investments in human capital designed to boost productivity growth (target 8.1) and improve household welfare, specifically in combination with interventions in educational attainment (target 4.1), nutrition (target 2.2), skills training (target 8.2), youth employment (targets 4.4, 8.5), healthcare access (target 3.8).​

Over 70 percent of Liberians are under the age of 35, and a large share of young workers intensifies demand for jobs. Liberia’s youth that account for 85 percent of the unemployed population are especially vulnerable to social and economic exclusion. Unemployment rates are especially high among young women, and female unemployment is associated with a range of other factors, including early marriage and childbearing, lower levels of educational attainment and workforce skills, and social norms that emphasize women’s reproductive roles over their roles as income earners. ​

Growing the private sector to generate jobs for all is key to address social and economic exclusion. By investing in SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth), Liberia can improve on current employment challenges and move the needle on key priorities around the eradication of poverty, zero hunger, improved health care and education.

Progress on Target 8.5 will benefit from advancements in closing key infrastructure gaps, specifically in electricity, sustainable and safe road connectivity and ICT and also in promoting access to clean energy.  These actions will progressively help to eradicate poverty in Liberia. ​

In Liberia, 25.6 percent of the population are satisfied with the public service received. By focusing on SDG 16 (Peace, justice and strong institutions) and, in particular Target 16.6, measures can be a booster shot needed to promote inclusive economic growth, ensure quality and effective and equitable access to public services to the poor.  ​

Further investing in SDG 16 will also provide the country with a continued transition from conflict and fragility and  strengthen the social contract between the government and its citizens. This should be supported by deliberate policies and programmes to not only encourage economic inclusiveness but also ensure equity in tax administration, the application of the rule of law (security and justice) and the distribution of social services, including education, health and social protection to have a positive impact on other SDGs. Equally important are measures to enforce political commitments, including through the deliberate use of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the monitoring and evaluation of government projects or mechanisms to strengthen the access to public information. ​