Community Action For Sustainable Engagement

07/12/2025

After we have proudly reaffirmed and reunited with our home—the Unity Party. On Sunday, December 7, 2025, in the spirit of renewal and solidarity, we paid a brief but meaningful visit to our Honorable Representative of District Five, Lofa County, Hon. Augustine B. Chiewolo.

This moment marks not just a visit, but the dawn of a new chapter for our people. It is the beginning of a brighter day for our Clan, our District, and the entire Lofa County. Together, we pledged our unwavering commitment to unity, progress, and collective action.

We stand resolved to work hand in hand to uplift Gbarlin Clan, strengthen Salayea District, and contribute to the advancement of Lofa County and Liberia at large. Our reunion symbolizes hope, cooperation, and the shared vision of building a future where every citizen can thrive.

With renewed energy and determination, we embrace this journey of service and development, knowing that when we rise together, our communities and our nation rise with us.

15/10/2024

Mass Protest Planned in Liberia Over Unpaid Land Rental Fees

MONROVIA – Rural communities in Liberia affected by large-scale logging concessions are gearing up for a mass protest against the government led by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.

The protest is in response to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning's (MFDP) failure to disburse land rental fees owed to these communities.

A week-long sit-in demonstration is set to take place at the MFDP, demanding the payment of $746,292 allocated in the 2024 national budget for the affected communities. The National Union of Community Forestry Development Committees (NUCFDC) has called for urgent action, emphasizing that these communities deserve their fair share of the benefits derived from logging operations.

"We are urging the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to ensure that communities impacted by logging receive their rightful benefits, particularly the 30 percent share of land rental fees paid by logging companies to the government," stated a representative from the NUCFDC.

The union is pressing for the full payment of the appropriated amount by the end of October 2024, as well as the allocation of an additional $5 million in the 2025 budget to address outstanding arrears. The government’s failure to pay these fees is seen as a violation of the National Forestry Reform Law of 2006, which mandates that 30 percent of land rental fees from logging companies be transferred to communities for development purposes.

Since logging activities commenced in Liberia in 2009, communities have reportedly faced significant financial shortfalls, with arrears accumulating to over $10 million. Of this amount, only $4 million has been paid, leaving a balance of $6 million as of 2024. The $746,292 included in the 2024 national budget is part of this ongoing issue.

Frustration mounts as it has been ten months into the 2024 fiscal year with no payments made to these communities. Despite a request from the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) for payment since July 2024, only $300,000 of the allocated amount has been approved, and while a check was printed in August, it has yet to reach the communities through the National Benefit Sharing Trust Board.

The NUCFDC expressed disappointment at the government's continued inaction, recalling previous protests necessary to secure payments. In 2015, similar protests were held before $1 million was finally disbursed, facilitated by then Vice President Joseph Nyuma Boakai after intervention from former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.

"This government promised not to engage in 'business as usual,' yet we find ourselves in the same predicament as under past regimes," said a NUCFDC representative. "As affected communities, we will respond with our own 'business as usual' — a mass citizen's peaceful sit-in protest targeting four key locations: the Executive Mansion, the Capitol Building, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, and the Ministerial Complex."

The union’s demands are straightforward:

Pay the full amount of $746,292 appropriated in the 2024 National Budget.

Ensure that the remaining balance of over $5 million is included in the 2025 National Budget to resolve longstanding arrears?

Respect and implement transitory arrangements until legal amendments can be made.

As tensions rise and communities prepare for action, the outcome of this protest could have significant implications for rural development and governance in Liberia.

14/10/2024

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/nucfdcs-appreciate-inclusion-key-decision-making-liberia-zelemen-owhwf

By: The National Union of Community Forestry Development Committees (NUCFDCs) Duazon, Margibi, Liberia – 14/10/2024 – The Government of Liberia, through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has made significant strides in advancing the nation’s climate agenda by accrediting two members o...

13/10/2024

From GROWT STEPS

12/10/2024

For Learning, and thanks to Jay Mount Consulting Ltd.

12/10/2024

I am grateful to God first and foremost, and to the team at the University of the Western Cape, the African Universities HUP, and the Politics and Urban Governance Research Group for providing me with the incredible opportunity to participate in the Inaugural Summer School for Human Rights Defenders. The program took place at the University of the Western Cape in Cape Town, South Africa, from October 7 to October 10, 2024. Once again, I express my heartfelt gratitude.

09/10/2024

Thank God for our Summer School for Human Rights Defenders (the first cohort) day two. It went well, very interactive, educating, and entertaining, especially the evening dinner with the Cold weather. I was like I want to go home, but that was ok.

The discussion series on day two was a breakout group discussing different issues on human rights, which included the climate crisis and its implications for human rights and democracy in Africa.
Human Rights and the rise of a multi-polar world, populism, and a shrinking democratic space.
Inequality (social, economic, political, etc) and its implications for human rights and democracy in Africa.
Defending human rights in the digital age; the risks and opportunities.

This was followed by a panel discussion on "University-civil society cooperation and collaboration" led by Drs. Paul Gready and
Hlengiwe Dube.

The last session was again a breakout group focused on "Story Telling for Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) - Storytelling techniques for democracy and human rights defenders. In my group, we are doing a story of community land rights, with me being a major character, considering the customary land rights struggle in Liberia, but us "Creon Land". A very nice story that we are producing in a podcast.

The Summer School is a real-life learning space, where participants are the teachers of themselves and the professors are facilitators. This is a one-lifetime opportunity that I will forever remember.

Once the story project is completed today (with the help of my practice AI, I have completed the scripts already) I will upload it on my YouTube, Instagram, and at the NUCFDCs YouTube.

Again, many thanks to the organizers and partners.

Day three starts soon in the next 5hrs. Keep following, as I give more updates from here in Cape Town, South Africa.

29/09/2024

Statement of Appreciation

To: Maeve E. McDermott
Programme Coordinator
Democratising Education for Global Sustainability and Justice
Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge

Dear Maeve,
I am writing to express my heartfelt appreciation to you, your team, and all partners involved in providing the opportunity for me and others to participate in these empowering short courses. These programs are crucial in supporting the implementation of important framework documents for global sustainability, development, and justice.
This year, I applied for three short courses offered by the DeMED Global Programme and was fortunate to be selected for all three. Over the past month, I have successfully completed two of the courses and will begin the final course in October 2024.
I would like to extend my gratitude once again to you, Dr. Maeve E. McDermott, and the entire team and partners involved in this initiative.
Below are excerpts from the messages I received regarding my acceptance and completion of the courses:
“Many thanks for your patience while our team reviewed your application for the upcoming Key Essentials: The Sustainable Development Goals and the Law short course. We received more than 2,100 expressions of interest from over 125 countries for this offering of the course. On behalf of the Democratising Education for Global Sustainability and Justice (DemEd Global) programme, I am delighted to announce that we were impressed with your application and are pleased to offer you a place in this online course. Due to a generous gift from a donor, the programme is able to provide this course (valued at more than £800) at no cost to all selected learners.”
“Many thanks for your patience while our team reviewed your application for the upcoming Key Essentials: The Global Biodiversity Framework, Sustainable Development and the Law short course. We received more than 2,350 expressions of interest from over 130 countries for this offering of the course. On behalf of the Democratising Education for Global Sustainability and Justice (DemEd Global) programme, I am delighted to announce that we were impressed with your application and are pleased to offer you a place in this online course. Due to a generous gift from a donor, the programme is able to provide this course (valued at more than £800) at no cost to all selected learners.”

“Dear Andrew Y.Y. Zelemen,
On behalf of the Democratising Education for Global Sustainability and Justice programme team, congratulations on completing the Key Essentials: The Sustainable Development Goals and the Law short course. We were delighted to have you participate as a learner and were impressed by the quality of your assessed work.”

“Dear Andrew Y.Y. Zelemen,
On behalf of the Democratising Education for Global Sustainability and Justice (DemEd Global) programme, congratulations on completing the Key Essentials: The Global Biodiversity Framework, Sustainable Development and the Law short course. We were delighted to have you participate as a learner and were impressed by the quality of your assessed work.”

“Many thanks for your patience while our team reviewed your application for the upcoming Key Essentials: The Paris Agreement, Sustainable Development and the Law short course. We received more than 2,500 expressions of interest from over 140 countries for this offering of the course. On behalf of the Democratising Education for Global Sustainability and Justice (DemEd Global) programme, I am delighted to announce that we were impressed with your application and are pleased to offer you a place in this online course. Due to a generous gift from a donor, the programme is able to provide this course (valued at more than £800) at no cost to all selected learners.”
Thank you once again for this incredible opportunity, and I look forward for greater ones, especially a scholarship to enable me complete a master program at your institution.

Warm regards,
Andrew Y. Y. Zelemen

29/05/2024

One of our networks (Grassroots Justice Network) had interview with me some time ago

Andrew Y.Y. Zelemen is the National Facilitator of the National Union of Community Forestry Development Committees in Liberia. Andrew shares his learning journey and what inspires him, along with the important work National Union of Community Forestry Development Committees in Liberia does in the fi...

08/05/2024

22/04/2024

A few minutes ago, I posted a tourism site from Mount Nimba. Just hold your peace; we will bring you the full information when the area is officially delegated. This is a US Forest Service project, and it outlines four primary actions to begin the transition: 1. expand, integrate, and diversify tourism circuits; 2. improve site visits and user experience; 3. enhance overnighting options; 4. conduct marketing and outreach.