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By Josiah Pailay/+231881913880 / +231775260307/josiahpailay96@gmail.com
A two-day County-Level People’s Summit on Climate Justice, organized by ActionAid Liberia, has concluded in Gbarnga with a strong call for sustained investment in agroecology, community-led climate finance, and large-scale reforestation to combat the worsening effects of climate change in Liberia’s rural communities.
The Climate Justice Summit was held from August 7–8, 2025, in Gbarnga and brought together farmers, youth, community leaders, government agencies, and civil society organizations to develop recommendations aimed at addressing the escalating impacts of climate change on Liberia’s rural communities.
“Communities living with the daily realities of climate change must be empowered to lead solutions,” said Norwu Harris, ActionAid Liberia’s Program Coordinator for Climate Justice and Youth. “Scaling agroecology and people-driven climate finance is critical to safeguarding livelihoods and the environment.”
The ActionAid Climate Justice Program Coordinator, Norwu Harris, strongly urged stakeholders—including government agencies, development partners, and civil society organizations—to recognize and integrate indigenous knowledge alongside sustainable farming techniques into Liberia’s national climate strategies.
She emphasized that local communities possess invaluable traditional practices that have long supported environmental stewardship and resilient agriculture. By blending this indigenous wisdom with modern agroecological approaches, policymakers can develop more effective and culturally relevant climate solutions that truly address the challenges faced by rural farmers.
She called for participatory processes that empower local farmers, especially women and youth, to contribute their knowledge and experience to climate planning. This inclusive approach, she said, will not only improve the sustainability of interventions but also ensure community ownership and long-term success.
The summit featured discussions on sustainable farming methods, such as composting and agroforestry, and innovative financing models to ensure adaptation resources reach the most vulnerable. Delegates also emphasized the need for comprehensive reforestation efforts that involve community stewardship to protect Liberia’s forests from deforestation and degradation.
Women farmers face increasing threats from extreme weather, pests, and soil loss,” said Romeo Kaydea, ActionAid’s Program Officer in Bong County. “Our Agroecology project is working closely with government and local partners to strengthen these communities’ resilience.”
According to recent data from the national food security assessment, approximately one in four rural households in Liberia currently faces food insecurity. This alarming statistic highlights the severity of the challenges that climate change poses to the country’s predominantly agrarian communities. Many families struggle to access sufficient, safe, and nutritious food due to increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, declining soil fertility, pest infestations, and diminished agricultural productivity.
The prevalence of food insecurity is particularly acute among vulnerable groups such as women-headed households, smallholder farmers, and youth, who often lack the resources and support necessary to adapt to these environmental stresses. With many rural families living on less than $1.90 a day, the risk of hunger and malnutrition remains high, exacerbating poverty and undermining overall community well-being.
This situation underscores the critical need for urgent and sustained interventions, including the promotion of resilient farming practices, equitable access to climate finance, and ecosystem restoration efforts. By addressing these root causes, programs like those advocated by ActionAid Liberia aim to strengthen food security and build lasting resilience in Liberia’s rural regions.
The comprehensive recommendations emerging from the summit are set to play a pivotal role in shaping ActionAid Liberia’s ongoing climate justice advocacy and programming. These recommendations provide a clear roadmap for prioritizing community-led solutions such as agroecology, localized climate finance mechanisms, and large-scale reforestation initiatives that directly address the unique challenges faced by rural Liberian communities.
Furthermore, the summit’s outcomes will inform ActionAid Liberia’s efforts to mobilize both domestic and international funding, ensuring that investments in climate adaptation are not only substantial but also effectively targeted to empower vulnerable communities. This approach seeks to enhance the resilience of rural populations against climate shocks while promoting sustainable environmental stewardship.
