[Monrovia, 20 August 2024]- The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), the European Union (EU), CERATH Development Organization (CDO), and Conservation Alliance (CA) proudly announce the launch of the Liberia Fisheries Governance Project (LFGP). The initiative is a three-year EU-funded project being implemented in Sinoe County.
The project is a response to the grant opportunity presented by the EU Delegation (to Liberia) to strengthen CSOs as independent actors of good governance and development. The EU is funding the LFGP under the Thematic Programme for Civil Society Organizations and Human Rights and Democracy 2021-2024 in Liberia.
The event, attended by the various categories of actors within the Liberian fisheries sector, was to officially announce and mark the commencement of the project. The occasion also allowed the project team to share with stakeholders the preliminary findings of its baseline study.
In the welcome address, the CERATH Country Director for Liberia, Leroy Kanmoh, remarked that “today marks a significant milestone in our collective journey towards empowering the voices of our coastal communities, safeguarding the rights of our fisherfolk, and strengthening the capacities of our local civil society organizations and media. This project is not just another initiative; it is a commitment to fostering a more inclusive, transparent, and accountable governance system in Liberia’s coastal landscapes”.
Speaking at the event, the EU Ambassador to Liberia, Nona Deprez, highlighted that “the importance of involving local fishing communities — men and women — in the fisheries decision-making process cannot be stressed enough”. She further mentioned that “strong political commitment and engagement are needed to secure positive economic and social developments in the fisheries sector. Hence, the role of NaFAA will be crucial to enhance awareness of the CMA model among the target CSOs and to support the CSOs in the dissemination of information of the CMA model”.
Giving the keynote address, the Director General of NaFAA, Hon Emma Glassco, pointed out that “with regards to political commitment and enhancing awareness, I can reassure you that this government is very keen on supporting the fishery sector, considering that its number one pillar of the ARREST Agenda is agriculture. Fisheries is part of the agriculture component of this government. So, this government is keen on its political interest and commitment in developing this sector”.
About LFGP
In January 2024, the European Union awarded a grant of EUR 930,000 to a consortium consisting of CERATH Development Organization (CDO) and Conservation Alliance (CA) for the rollout of the Liberia Fisheries Governance Project.
The project aims to improve good governance, democracy, and accountability in the coastal landscape of Sinoe County This objective will be attained through enhanced capacities and performance of local civil society organizations (CSOs) and media actors to safeguard the rights and livelihoods of fisher folks in the target area.
The specific objectives of the project are
- Organization strengthening of CSOs and media institutions as entities for good governance
- Promotion of the Co-Management Association (CMA) approach
- Enhancing women, youth, and marginalized persons’ participation in the coastal economy
- Advocacy on sustainable governance and fisherfolk rights.
