Government Agencies Collaborate to Address Coastal Resilience for Vulnerable Communities in Sinoe County

Monrovia, Liberia - The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), along with the Ministries of Mines & Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and Public Works, has signed a contract to enhance the resilience of vulnerable coastal communities in Sinoe County.

This project aims to build on existing initiatives such as the Monrovia Metropolitan Climate Resilient Project (MMCRP) and the Enhancing Climate Information Systems for Resilient Development in Liberia (Liberia CIS), as well as other projects funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The goal is to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable coastal communities and their livelihoods against the impacts of climate change, with a particular focus on women and youth.

Speaking at the contract signing, Acting Finance & Development Planning Minister Anthony Myers highlighted that Liberia’s coastal zones are facing significant threats from climate change, including sea level rise, increased coastal flooding and erosion, rising temperatures, and frequent high-intensity coastal storms.

He noted that these climatic changes are intensifying and worsening the effects of heavy rainfall, storm surges, and wave action on the country's coastal areas and vulnerable communities.

Minister Myers stated that the Liberian Government, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is responding to these challenges through the development of the “Enhancing the Resilience of Vulnerable Coastal Communities in Sinoe County of Liberia” project.

UNDP Representative Moses Massah, speaking at the ceremony, emphasized the need for a collective effort to shift from short-term solutions to long-term, integrated, and participatory planning that involves the public sector, private sector, and communities at all levels of governance.

He stressed that the success of the project will depend on active and meaningful participation from all stakeholders and urged community representatives to get involved in the project's implementation, as they are directly impacted by climate change.

The total cost of the project is $20,405,930, financed through various sources.

The Least Developed Country Fund (LDCF) is providing a grant of $8,932,420, administered by the UNDP. Additional cash co-financing of $200,000 will also be managed by the UNDP, with the Government of Liberia contributing $1,700,000 in-kind.

Conservation International will provide parallel in-kind co-financing of $1,500,000 through the “Conservation and Sustainable Use of Liberia’s Coastal Natural Capital” project. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will contribute $3,430,000 through the Liberia CIS project, while the UNDP’s “Livelihood and Employment Creation in Liberia” project will add $3,840,510 from the MMCRP project. The project, which commenced in 2022, is being relaunched due to technical issues and is scheduled to conclude in November 2028.

The signing was attended by the Ministers of Mines & Energy, a representation from Environmental Protection Agency, and the Minister of Public Works.

The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) will oversee the project’s implementation through its External Resources and Debt Management Division, ensuring that the project's achievements.