The Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia has concluded a three-day dialogue for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), youth, and the private sector on the implementation of Liberia’s National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).
The event was held under the theme “Strengthening Meaningful CSOs, Youth and Private Sector Engagement for Scaling up NAP Implementation in Liberia”.
The dialogue, which took place at the Survivors Aid International Liberia (SAIL) conference hall, brought together 40 participants from various CSOs, youth organizations, and private sector groups. The event aimed to discuss the challenges posed by climate change, explore potential solutions to mitigate its impacts, and proffer solutions for scaling up the effective implementation of Liberia’s NAPs.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Arthur R.M. Becker, Manager of the Department of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) at the Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia, emphasized that the successful implementation of Liberia’s NAPs requires a multi-stakeholder approach involving CSOs, youth groups, the private sector, government agencies, academia, and development partners.
The NAPs, which serve as a 10-year climate change adaptation roadmap for Liberia (2020-2030), involve identifying medium- to long-term climate change adaptation needs and developing strategies to address them. Engaging diverse stakeholders ensures that various perspectives are considered, leading to more comprehensive and effective adaptation actions.
During the three-day dialogue, participants gained a deeper understanding of the NAP processes, including significant achievements, milestones, challenges, and opportunities from formulation to planning, toward implementation.
They also identified their specific roles in NAP implementation, key actions required to accelerate the implementation of NAPs in Liberia, and ways to support the effective implementation of Liberia’s National Adaptation Plans for Climate Change.
The dialogue concluded on July 19, 2024, with the establishment of a CSOs, Private Sector, and Youth Working Group for effective implementation of NAP in Liberia.
Additionally, the participants signed the “Kakata Declaration,” a commitment by the Private Sector, Youth, and CSOs to further engage and support the effective implementation of Liberia’s National Adaptation Plans for Climate Change.
