𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐒 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐮𝐞𝐡𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐜𝐜𝐚, 𝐁𝐨𝐦𝐢 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲

By: Richard Williams/ 0775339618/ 0881084573/richardwilliamsp30@gmail.com

Sumo Town, Bomi county:  The Recovery of Economic Activity for Liberian Informal Sector Employment (REALISE) on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, concluded the first round of its Community Livelihood and Agriculture Support (CLAS) component in Sumo Town Suehn Mecca district, Bomi County.

The milestone marks the completion of a project that spanned 15 communities within the district and aimed to benefit 16,200 individuals across eight counties, including Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Lofa, Nimba, and Sinoe.

According to Anita Marshall, deputy project coordinator for economic inclusion on REALISE, the CLAS initiative sought to equip beneficiaries with sustainable farming practices capable of adapting to climate change while enhancing their capacity to manage agricultural activities and operate small businesses more effectively.

Marshall noted that county consultations in 2023 secured approval from the Bomi County Local Authority, which facilitated the project’s location and rollout. She expressed gratitude for the communities’ engagement and lauded the project as a successful implementation.

“Our goal is not only to help farmers adopt climate-resilient practices but also to empower them to run their operations more efficiently as small business owners,” Marshall said.

The program provided cash for labor subsidies and funded several community projects using proceeds from the farming initiatives, Marshall indicated.

She urged beneficiaries to persist in applying the lessons learned during the one-year CLAS cycle, acknowledging there were challenges along the way but expressing optimism that rural communities will continue to improve and that there may be potential for a subsequent round of funding.

Local governance officials also welcomed the project’s impact.

Suehn Mecca Statutory District Superintendent Morris Smith praised REALISE for elevating agricultural activity in the district. Smith credited Bomi County Superintendent Miatta Dorley with selecting Suehn Mecca for the initiative, insisting the decision has left an enduring, positive imprint on residents’ lives.

He urged citizens to continue embracing opportunities that can transform livelihoods.

“We want to urged you the community to remain engaged and to continue embracing opportunities capable of transforming your livelihoods” Smith noted. Beneficiaries themselves shared mixed but hopeful sentiments. Many reported improvements in family welfare, with better means to provide for schooling and overall socio-economic development within their communities.

They urged continued donor support and expansion of the program to additional areas so that more people can benefit from similar opportunities.

Kukatonu, one of the implementing partners, reflected on the selection process as fair and transparent, describing it as a lottery-based approach that nevertheless delivered on its promises.

Kukatonu Executive Director H. Fatu K. Tulso commended REALISE for effective execution and called for an extension of the program.

“This initiative has provided valuable resources, training, and access to services that assist farmers in adopting improved practices”. Madam Tulso said.

She noted that participants cultivated crops including rice, cassava, groundnuts, and corn on newly developed farmlands.

The CLAS initiative is funded by a consortium of international and local partners, including the World Bank, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the French Development Agency (AFD), and the Government of Liberia.

As REALISE looks ahead, stakeholders hope for continued collaboration that will sustain gains in agricultural productivity and informal sector livelihoods across Liberia.