By Grace Q. Bryant
The Government of Liberia, through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in partnership with Sustainable Solutions for Africa (SSA) and supported by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and Ernst & Young (EY), hosted a pivotal national policy dialogue aimed at addressing the impacts of climate change on agriculture and energy sectors.
The event, which was held in Monrovia, brought together key stakeholders, including officials from the EPA, the Ministry of Agriculture, and various national and international organizations, civil society groups, and private sector representatives.
The dialogue, themed “Accelerating the Financing and Implementation of Low-Carbon and Climate-Resilient Priorities for Agriculture and Energy in African Countries,” is part of a multi-country GCF Readiness Program under the African Adaptation Initiative.
Opening the session, Elijah Z. Whapoe, Coordinator of the National Climate Change Secretariat, emphasized the urgency of the meeting.
“This dialogue is critical for enhancing our understanding of climate change impacts on agriculture and livelihoods in Liberia”, he stated,
He urged participants to engage actively in the dialogue despite the pressing challenges they face.
The Chief Technical Adviser to the EPA’s Executive Director, Benjaman Karmoh, highlighted the agricultural sector’s significance, noting that it contributes substantially to Liberia’s GDP and employs 60 to 70 percent of the population. “If climate change continues to threaten this vital sector, we must collaborate to combat its effects and safeguard food security,” Karmoh said.
Acknowledging the support of the African Adaptation Initiative, Karmoh assured participants that the EPA Executive Director, Emmanuel Yarkpawolo, was closely following the dialogue from the Biodiversity COP in Colombia.
Representatives from various organizations, including the UNDP, University of Liberia, Community of Hope Agricultural Project (CHAP), and the Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority, praised the initiative.
They expressed optimism that the dialogue would yield actionable solutions to Liberia’s agricultural and food security challenges amidst climate change.
Deputy Minister for Agriculture, David K. Aquoi, emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to sustainable and climate-smart food production.
He noted the ongoing projects promoting lowland rice cultivation in urban areas and encouraged farmers to adopt a model of “grow what they eat, eat some, and sell some,” aimed at enhancing livelihoods and promoting food security.
The GCF-funded Pan-African Readiness Program aims to strengthen the capacity of 23 African nations, including Liberia, to respond effectively to climate change.
It focuses on enhancing climate resilience and integrating adaptation strategies into agricultural policies while fostering a synergistic relationship between agriculture and energy.
As Liberia grapples with the impacts of climate change, the policy dialogue serves as a vital platform for stakeholders to review current strategies, assess readiness deliverables, and incorporate climate data into agricultural policy frameworks.
The expected outcomes include enhancing understanding of climate projections, developing policy recommendations for adaptation, and establishing frameworks for future collaboration.
The national policy dialogue represents a critical step in Liberia’s efforts to build a resilient agricultural sector, ensuring that the country can withstand the challenges posed by climate change while securing food for its population.
