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Tuesday, July 22, 2025

“We Want UNDP to Expand its Project to Other Communities”

Beneficiaries of the UNDP supported projects in Kailahun and Lukasue Lofa county, says the UNDP has greatly impacted their community, and as such they want an extension in other communities.

“We Want UNDP to Expand its Project to Other Communities” -as benefictries appreciate the positive impact of the UNDP projects in their communities   

Sam Jomah is an Eco-guard, he’s amongst those who benefited from the UNDP project. For Sam, he sees the project as critical to transforming his life, making use of every opportunity he had.  According to him, he had no prior knowledge of how to use a surveillance camera in the forest. “I never knew the importance of safeguarding our forest especially, preserving wildlife. But through the UNDP training program I learn how to plant camera in the forest,” he narrated.   

As Sam symbolically display a surveillance Camera, given by the UNDP following an intensive training he said, “We want to say a big thank you to the UNDP and the government of Liberia for this project. The camera is intended to keep surveillance at protected areas in the forest. From this program we are now empower and we are able to send our children to school. I can safely say to you that through this program one of my children graduated from high school, for this I am grateful.” they added. 

In Lukasue, there are Eco-guards and Rangers being supported by UNDP purposely for forest conservation and sustainable forests management. The UNDP also supported farmers, firstly trained and incorporated into cooperatives, involved into lowland rice, cocoa and plantains. They received the necessary training and tools needed to begin farming. Currently, the farmers are into lowland rice and cocoa farming. For Kailahun, the farmers are only doing lowland rice farming, but are expected be introduced to cocoa farming later this year according to the UNDP.

Helena Kanneh and Sam Jomah are beneficiaries of the UNDP project, she explained the level of impact the project has made in her personal life and their community cannot go unnoticed. “I didn’t know that this program was so impactful, imagine I used to struggle hard to get food for my kids but since the UNDP trained us on how to manage our own farm, now that I can say things are getting better.” 

Despite these interventions by UNDP, challenges remain inevitable, as Monyan Samukai highlighted key challenges, including the need for improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities, better storage infrastructure, access to cash transfer programs especially for women, enhanced irrigation systems, and increased investment in lowland rice farming.

Bility M. Geningan, Chief Park Worden, Foya Proposed Protected Area, also calls for more support to boost its manpower for efficiency in the forest. According to Mr. Geningan, the lack of manpower in the area is impeding the process of monitoring illegal activities in the forest. He used the medium to appeal to the UNDP and the government for logistical support.

According to the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), there are about 120 ringers across Liberia, of that number, Foya Proposed Protected Area has four ringers. Geningan disclosed that the community has lot of potential young people who are willing to be a part. “What we actually, need is training of additional young people as ringers to join us, with this, we can battle the illegal activities ongoing into our forest,” he added.

For the tour in Salayea, Lofa county, the forest management structure supported under its joint Programme of the Community Based Forest Management (CBFM) Project implemented by UNDP Liberia and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Liberia with funding from the Embassy of Sweden in Monrovia.

There is a separation of over 8,000 hectares of land in Salayea, and it is an ongoing initiative, this project is intended to enhance biodiversity conservation by providing alternative livelihoods for forest outlying and Forest-Dependent Communities and Groups to reduce the threats against the forest.

Meanwhile the UNDP new Resident Representative for Liberia, Aliou Dia, has highlighted youth, and women’s empowerment as his major priorities.

Mr. Dia who visit was basically focused on engaging communities to know their challenges and to assess progress made under the Community-Based Forest Management Project (CBFM), Accelerated Community Development Programme (ACDP), and other key initiative supporting sustainable livelihoods and environmental conservation, also saw the need for the UNDP to expand to additional communities as demands from inhabitants are numerous.   

The tour in these counties were accompanied by officials from the Ministries of Local Government, Agriculture, the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), the Society for the Conservation of Nature of Liberia (SCNL), and the Community of Hope Agriculture Project (CHAP).

Over the last few years, the UNDP in partnership with the Liberian Government supported projects such as communities in lowland rice farming, cocoa and vegetable production, and other livelihood programs across the country. The UNDP also provided incentives, to support the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), to recruit, train, and deploy Eco-guards who assist forest rangers in patrolling protected areas to prevent illegal hunting, poaching, and deforestation.

His engagement with community leaders and project beneficiaries explores the impact of the CBFM initiatives and encouraged residents to take ownership of these initiatives, stressing the importance of long-term sustainability plans which will depends on citizen’s commitment and hard work toward achieving self-sufficiency. He reiterated the UNDP’s continues commitment to supporting the Liberian Government through its ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID).

During the discussion they both strategies for turning the County Development Agenda (CDA) program into an investment plan and opportunities. Stressing the importance of conducting a comprehensive geological survey in Lofa county to ascertain the cause of earth vibration in the county. It may be recalled few years ago, there were reports of the earth vibration in the county, something which spark fears in among citizens.

Simeon Wiakanty
Simeon Wiakanty
Simeon Sonnie Wiakanty is a professional Liberian journalist and communication expert known for his passion, precision, and commitment to ethical reporting. With extensive experience covering politics, economics, culture, and human-interest stories, he blends thorough research with compelling storytelling. Simeon has worked across print and online media, including reporting for a leading digital news platform, where he honed his skills in breaking news and investigative journalism. His work emphasizes accuracy, balance, and public engagement. As CEO of D-Kanty News Network (DKNN), Simeon continues to lead with a vision of impactful journalism that informs, educates, and empowers the public.

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