By By: Contributing Writer
Monrovia — Liberia and the United Nations Development Programme will officially launch a new climate resilience initiative this week aimed at shielding vulnerable communities from the mounting impacts of climate change.
The Government of Liberia, through the Environmental Protection Agency, and UNDP will host an inception workshop to kick off the Strengthening Agricultural Resilience Through Transformational Livelihood Adaptation in Liberia (SARTLA) Project. The five-year program, running from 2026 to 2030, seeks to build climate resilience and expand sustainable livelihoods for populations heavily dependent on natural resources.
The workshop will gather government officials, development partners, civil society groups, local stakeholders, and technical experts. Participants will review the project’s goals, map out implementation plans, define institutional roles, and set priorities for the initial phase of work.
Jointly developed by the Government and UNDP, SARTLA responds directly to climate pressures facing rural Liberians. The project takes a systems-based approach focused on four key areas: ecosystem restoration, stronger agricultural extension services, improved access to finance, and development of sustainable value chains in agriculture, fisheries, and ecotourism.
EPA will execute the project on the ground, while UNDP will serve as the accredited entity, providing technical oversight and implementation support over the five-year period.
Organizers say the inception workshop is designed to achieve five main outcomes: build consensus on project goals and expected results, clarify roles for all stakeholders, improve coordination among implementing partners, agree on immediate priorities, and formally begin project activities.
The SARTLA Project supports Liberia’s national climate adaptation strategy and broader development agenda. Officials expect it to help protect natural resources while creating new economic opportunities in rural areas where climate shocks continue to threaten food security and livelihoods.
With climate-related challenges intensifying across the region, the launch marks a significant step in Liberia’s push toward long-term adaptation and sustainable development.
