Monrovia, Liberia –The Government of Liberia and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have signed a grant agreement for the Scaling-Up Agroecology Approaches in Liberia project, valued at Five Million Euros (approximately US$5.3 Million).
This funding, provided by the European Union, will support Liberia’s agricultural sector by promoting sustainable practices aimed at increasing the resilience of smallholder farmers.
The project is part of the Smallholder Agriculture Transformation and Agribusiness Revitalization Project (STAR-P), a joint initiative co-financed by IFAD and the World Bank. These resources will complement the US$28 million already allocated by IFAD for the project, which is set to run over a four-year period starting in 2025.
The primary objective of the project is to improve food security, strengthen the livelihoods of rural communities, and build resilience to climate change by promoting agroecological practices. It will focus on increasing horticultural production through soil fertility enhancement, sustainable water management practices, irrigation technologies, and innovative co-creation models that encourage farmer collaboration.
At the signing ceremony, Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan represented the Government of Liberia, while IFAD Country Representative Pascaline Barankeba signed on behalf of the organization.
In his remarks, Minister Ngafuan underscored the importance of the partnership, stating that the grant agreement reflects the strong commitment of Liberia's international partners to support the government’s development goals.
He said, “This signing is not just a piece of paper, but a tangible demonstration of how our international partners are investing in the future of Liberia. It reinforces our shared vision for a more inclusive and sustainable agricultural sector. This project is directly aligned with the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development and our National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP), which aims to revolutionize Liberia’s agricultural landscape.”
Minister Ngafuan also extended his gratitude to the European Union for its generous contribution, expressing his hope that the grant would have a profound and positive impact on Liberian farmers, especially in terms of helping them adapt to the growing challenges posed by climate change.
“We are confident that this project will help Liberian farmers cope with the vulnerabilities of climate change, thereby improving food security and creating more opportunities for income generation.”
He further stressed the government's focus on increasing food production.
Minister Ngafuan also pledged the government’s unwavering support to farmers and their livelihoods, especially through strengthening the agricultural value chain.
For her part, IFAD Country Representative Barankeba expressed her pleasure in signing these financing instruments following the endorsement of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development and the launch of the National Agriculture Development Plan, as both projects align perfectly with it.
She pledged IFAD’s commitment to supporting Liberia through ongoing and future investment in the country.
Madam Barenkeba announced that IFAD will announce the country allocation under IFAD 13 early next year. “This will present an opportunity to increase the current investment or identify a new one, thereby taking our cooperation to new levels”
The signing ceremony was done in the presence of Agriculture Minister Dr. Alexander Nuetah, Deputy Finance Ministers Anthony G. Myers and Tanneh G. Brunson, Acting Deputy Minister for Administration Paul T. Lamin amongst others.