Liberia, with a population of just over 5.6 million people, is one of the world’s ten poorest countries, with a GDP per capita of US$662.50. The lingering effects of two civil wars (1989-2003), Ebola outbreaks (2014-2015) and the COVID-19 pandemic (2020) have left Liberia short of achieving widespread development goals.
The Cooperative Development Agency (CDA) has been readmitted as a full-fledged member of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) after several years of dormancy, in a fresh move that signals bright era for cooperative movements in Liberia.
As the world's top cocoa producer, Ivory Coast faces many challenges – first and foremost the fight against illegal smuggling of this "brown gold". Some cocoa farmers consider the prices set by the state for their beans far too low.
World Bank is spearheading the development of a Small-Scale Fisheries Training Curriculum for Future Leaders. The two-day training, held at the Royal Grand Hotel, brought together key stakeholders to apply the "Illuminating Hidden Harvests Global Approach for Assessments, Analysis, and Monitoring of Small-Scale Fisheries."
Liberia has expressed keen interest to purchase key agricultural commodities from Cambodia, including milled rice, cassava and cashew nuts. The intent was articulated by Amin Modad, the Liberian Minister of Commerce and Industry, during a recent meeting with Cambodian officials in Geneva, Switzerland.
World Bank Liberia Country Manager Georgia Wallen has highlighted the importance of the agriculture sector to Liberia's Liberia Rising 2030 goals and sustainable poverty reduction. She noted that while the sector has seen some growth in recent years, averaging 3.5% between 2021-2023, much more progress is needed and key challenges must be tackled.
President Joseph Boakai has unveiled the National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP) 2024-2030, launching the "Liberians Feed Yourselves Agenda" to revolutionize Liberia's agricultural sector and promote self-sufficiency in food production.
The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) has announced ambitious plans to further strengthen the Liberian fisheries sector through the European Union-funded Communities for Fisheries Project.
World Oceans Day — a moment to reflect and to highlight the importance of the ocean in the lives of us all — is celebrated globally every year on June 8. As the European Union (EU) stands on the sandy beach of Marshall in Liberia with fishermen and women the day before World Oceans Day, a big celebration to recognize and appreciate the value of the ocean is held at the same time in New York under the theme “Awaken New Depths”.
