In depth

In depth

UNDP continues to be one of the leading agencies providing interventions for sustainable management of Liberia’s natural and environmental resources.

The post conflict environment in Liberia is being affected by a number of factors ranging from shifting cultivation, soil erosion, unregulated timber exploitation, poaching and hunting, inappropriate mining schemes, insufficient public education and awareness, inadequate law enforcement, and insufficient training in biodiversity management. All of these negative effects are a potential consequence of the level of poverty permeating the society and threatening the country's biodiversity. Poor management and over exploitation of the natural resources of Liberia helped fueled the 14 years civil conflict in the Country. There is a direct correlation between the environment and security and the environment and development.

The Borough of New Kru Town has a population of over 20,000 people. This community, affected by rising sea level, is one of the areas benefiting from UNDP/GEF interventions.

Response to environmental challenges  

UNDP continues to be one of the leading agencies providing interventions for sustainable management of Liberia’s natural and environmental resources through many different tailored projects and activities. However, the support has tended to be emergency‐focused in nature rather than longer term strategic aims.

The Energy & Environmen programme delivers through the following components; climate change, natural resource management and water governance, disaster risks management and other key activities. Under the climate change management component of the programme, the interventions focuses on agriculture adaptation, coastal adaptation, and early warning system as mitigation measures to strengthen resilience. The emphasis on natural resource management is on education and creating awareness on the sustainable use of water, land and forest by communities to strengthen livelihood.

The Energy and Environment programme works with national and international environmental stakeholders and academic institutions. The capacities of local partners are strengthened to respond to emerging challenges and environmental issues in post-conflict Liberia.

UNDP works with the Environmental Protection Agency as the key government partner and closely collaborates with relevant institutions, NGOs, INGO, academic institutions, civil society organizations, universities, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), as well as donors-Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Global Environmental Facility (GEF).

The challenges are enormous but key is the mainstreaming of environment in national development plans and policies. Hence, UNDP’s focus has remained on developing strong partnerships with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Ministry of  Mines and Energy and other relevant national partners to support and build the capacity of environmental actors and develop tools to strengthen Liberia's response to the environmental challenges of climate change.

The objectives of the Energy & Environment programme are delivered through Climate change, natural resource management and water governance, disaster risks management and other key activities. Under the climate change management component of the programme, the interventions will focus on agriculture adaptation, coastal adaptation, and early warning system as mitigation measures to strengthen resilience. The emphasis on natural resource management is on education and raising awareness on the sustainable use of water, land and forest by communities to strengthen livelihood.