Liberia has taken a major step toward establishing a national carbon market by appointing Gordian Knot Strategies, a U.S.-based climate finance advisory firm, to provide technical and financial guidance.
The move is designed to help Liberia attract international capital while building the infrastructure and governance systems necessary for a credible carbon market.
The Carbon Markets Authority, created in 2025, will collaborate with Gordian Knot Strategies to engage philanthropic organizations, development banks, and climate-focused investors.
The partnership is intended to ensure that Liberia’s carbon market operates with integrity and transparency while aligning with local development priorities.
Gordian Knot Strategies brings extensive experience in carbon market design, governance frameworks, and international climate finance.
Under the agreement, the firm will advise on registry systems, monitoring and verification processes, and institutional structures needed to make Liberia’s carbon market investment-ready.
Importantly, all capital mobilization efforts will rely on grants or concessional funding, avoiding debt obligations or sovereign guarantees.
“This is more than fundraising,” said Jeanine M. Cooper, CEO of the Carbon Markets Authority.
“It represents a strategic partnership with a values-aligned advisor that understands both governance and international finance.”
The CMA aims to leverage this collaboration to set a regional standard for transparent, high-integrity carbon markets.
Liberia is part of a growing trend in Africa to create domestic carbon markets that attract global climate finance. Neighboring countries, including Ghana and Kenya, have initiated similar programs to tap into international funding for emissions reduction projects while supporting community development.
This private/public partnership between Liberia’s and Gordian Knot Strategies could serve as a potential model for other emerging markets seeking to balance environmental goals with economic development.
- Carbon Herald
