By: Richard Williams/0775339618/ 0881084573/richardwilliamsp30@gmail.com
Tubmanburg, Bomi-The Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme and with support from the Global Environment Facility, has concluded a two-day training for focus points and climate change working groups in Cape Mount and Bomi counties.
The sessions, conducted under a project titled Enhancing the Resilience of Vulnerable Coastal Communities in Sinoe County of Liberia, aim to foster a proactive and comprehensive approach to addressing climate change, bolstering resilience, and ensuring sustainable development across Liberia’s nine coastal counties.
The training brought together a diverse array of stakeholders, including representatives from local government, ministries and agencies, the private sector, the media, and persons living with disabilities, all forming part of the working groups.
Lead facilitator Dr. Justine Akankali, an international climate change and integrated coastal zone management expert, guided participants through a range of topics.
Among them were the impact of climate change on coastal biodiversity and physical infrastructure, tools for participatory coastal resource mapping, integrating climate adaptation into coastal management, and discussions on gender roles and disability inclusion in climate adaptation, among others.
Dr. Akankali challenged focus points and climate working group members to serve as ambassadors who would craft a structural approach that includes actionable steps and initiatives to address and mitigate climate change impacts at the local level.
Kulee Keculah, a member of the EPA’s Project Management Unit, provided background on the project, emphasizing its core aim: to build the long-term climate resilience of Liberia’s coastal communities by addressing immediate adaptation priorities and creating an enabling environment to scale coastal adaptation initiatives to other parts of the country.
He noted that the project targets three inter-related focus areas: coastal protection, coastal management, and diversified climate-resilient livelihoods.
“I am hopeful that the lessons learned and networks established during this training will support ongoing efforts to bolster resilience not only in Cape Mount and Bomi, but across all coastal counties, reinforcing Liberia’s pathway toward sustainable and inclusive growth in the face of climate change,” Kulee said
Participants at the training expressed strong appreciation for the collaboration among the EPA, UNDP, and partners, and pledged their readiness to champion the initiative.
They committed to serving as ambassadors for their coastal communities and to work with residents of Cape Mount and Bomi counties to mitigate the impacts of climate change on livelihoods.
As Liberia focuses on safeguarding its coastline and livelihoods, the collaboration and training mark a significant step toward empowering local communities with the knowledge and tools needed to adapt to a changing climate and to promote sustainable development across the nation.