Conservation International, Liberia

01/04/2026

At the National Fishery Investment Conference hosted by The National Fisheries & Aquaculture Authority Republic of Liberia, our Program Delivery Director for West and Central Africa,

He highlighted how responsible, inclusive approaches, drawing from CI-Liberia’s implementation of the Liberia Sustainable Management of Fishery Project (LSMFP), are not just good for communities; they are essential for sustainable and secure investments.

01/04/2026

31/03/2026

Following our recent engagements in Lofa, our team has continued its field mission in Grand Cape Mount connecting with communities in the Sorkpo and Fahnbulleh clans to wrap up feasibility assessments.

These discussions are focused on bringing forest communities together and exploring opportunities for Conservation Agreements that can help reduce deforestation while supporting livelihoods, food security, and local development.

The Food System Land Use and Restoration (FOLUR) Impact Program helps communities understand the value of their forest resources and the importance of sustainable management for their future.

At Conservation International, we’re building partnerships and driving interventions that put people at the center of conservation. 🌱🤝

10/03/2026

Our team recently wrapped up a week-long feasibility assessment in Lofa County engaging local communities within the Bondi and Zeayeama clans about sustainable forest management and conservation opportunities.

This important step marks the beginning of activities that could lead to the signing of Conservation Agreements with additional communities under the Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration (FOLUR) Impact Program.

Across northwest Liberia, communities are showing growing interest in understanding the value of their forests and exploring ways to work with Conservation International to protect these ecosystems while sustaining their livelihoods.

At Conservation International, we firmly believe that community-led and locally driven conservation interventions yield the best results. We prioritize people to ensure that protecting nature also supports the well-being and resilience of communities that depend on it.

These interventions in northwest Liberia are funded by the Global Environment Facility through the FOLUR impact program, which aims to enhance sustainable land use and improve the livelihoods of local communities while conserving biodiversity.

09/03/2026

We honor the incredible women of Conservation International-Liberia today, whose efforts continue to uplift communities and inspire change. Happy International Women's Day. 💚

06/03/2026

Our approach involves communities leading conservation efforts for both people and nature, because we believe that they can thrive together. We are proud of the strong partnership between CI-Liberia and the Government of Liberia through its relevant ministries and agencies.

Kudos to our Project Steering Committee and Technical Advisory Committee members for visiting some of our project communities to engage with our beneficiaries.

27/02/2026

🌱 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬🤝

We are excited to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Cooperative Development Agency (CDA) to support the formation and strengthening of cooperatives under the Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration (FOLUR) Impact Program.

Through this partnership, CDA, the government agency responsible for cooperative development will provide leadership and technical guidance on the establishment and management of cooperatives. CI and its implementing partners will support the process by mobilizing local community members, providing technical assistance, and strengthening cooperative capacity to ensure sustainable and effective operations.

Providing an overview of the project, GEF Portfolio Senior Manager David Dennis explained that the project seeks to promote responsible land use through sustainable agriculture practices while discouraging deforestation.

Delivering special remarks on behalf of Conservation International, Liberia Country Director Momodu Kermokai praised CDA’s commitment to the partnership, describing the collaboration as a key step toward strengthening food systems and agricultural value chains while advancing biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and improved livelihoods for farming communities.

Speaking on behalf of CDA, Registrar General Madam Lwopu Kandakai outlined the agency’s mandate and expressed enthusiasm about the new partnership. She thanked CI-Liberia for taking the right steps to engage CDA and called on all stakeholders to uphold the terms of the agreement.

The signing ceremony, held on February 26 at the CDA office, marks the beginning of a strong partnership between CDA, CI, and its implementing partners. 🌍🌾

This partnership is made possible through the FOLUR project funded by the Global Environment Facility.

20/02/2026

Our Chief Field Officer/Senior Vice President for Conservation International, Africa Field Division, Jimmiel Mandima, has successfully concluded impactful field visits to project communities in Maryland and Grand Kru counties, Liberia.
The visit focused on deepening partnerships, assessing the impact of CI-Liberia’s work, and engaging directly with communities that are leading conservation efforts on the ground.

While in Maryland, Jimmiel was joined by the Head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden in Monrovia, Madam Kerstin Jousson Cisse.

At an elaborate gathering in Harper organized by the Maryland Fish Women Association, the Maryland Women Farmers Association, and other civil society organizations, both Jimmiel and madam Cisse were honored with traditional gowns in a powerful celebration of culture and partnership.

In his remarks, Jimmiel emphasized that, "at Conservation International, it is never about us. It is about partnership. It is community-driven. It is locally led.”
He reaffirmed a core belief that “nature is for people, and it is the people who must decide what they want to do with their resources.”
He praised the unity and leadership of the women, encouraging them to continue serving as good examples for other communities.

Madam Cisse, for her part applauded the women and underlined CI's role in protecting and preserving nature.
She noted that “I know that when you are looking for income-generating activities, when you are doing your businesses, you are in the back of your mind doing it in a way that preserves and saves nature.”

The team also visited Fish Town, a community in Maryland benefiting from a revolving loan program and a Conservation Agreement with CI-Liberia. From fish dryers to the beachfront, women fishmongers shared firsthand how these initiatives are transforming their livelihoods.

In Sass Town, Grand Kru County, the message was clear and heartfelt: communities want the partnership to continue.
Women beneficiaries of the Blue Oceans Program shared powerful testimonies of change, describing improved incomes, stronger organization and women's voices, and renewed hope for their families.
Their voices echoed a simple truth: when conservation is community-led and locally driven, the impact is real and lasting.

These interventions are made possible with funding from Sida - Styrelsen för Internationellt Utvecklingssamarbete, through the Embassy of Sweden in Monrovia.

14/02/2026

We too over 10 farmers to Kenema, Sierra Leone for a week-long knowledge exchange visit with cocoa farmers cooperatives.

14/02/2026

In collaboration with our partners the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the Society for the Conservation of Nature in Liberia (SCNL), we took Liberian cocoa farmers on a week-long cross-border knowledge exchange visit to Kenema, Sierra Leone.

Over 10 farmers from different cooperatives in Lofa and Gbarpolu Counties traveled to Sierra Leone to share knowledge and learn how eco-friendly cocoa farming and strong cooperative governance are shifting forest conservation and strengthening livelihoods in rural communities in Sierra Leone.

During the visit, the farmers interacted with Gola Rainforest Conservation (GRC) staff and visited over four cocoa farms, interacting with farmers and cooperative leaders and also gaining insight on the techniques and methods of agroforestry as a forest-friendly cocoa module and access to local and international markets.

For their part, the farmers expressed appreciation for the visit, describing it as rewarding. Sam Zaima, Voijama District Cooperative Tree Crop Officer committed to sharing lessons learned from the sustainable cocoa farming practices and structure of the cooperatives in Sierra Leone with others who were not selected to make the trip.

Esther Passawe, a member of the Fawenta Cooperative, for her part took note of how organized the cooperatives she visited were, promising to share her experience with other farmers in Gbarpolu.

It is our hope that these lessons from Sierra Leone will now be shared across communities in Lofa and Gbarpolu Counties to build unity and promote sustainable agricultural practices that support long-term forest conservation across the northwest Liberia landscape.

The Liberian cocoa farmer's knowledge exchange visit to Kenema, Sierra Leone is an initiative under the Food System Land Use and Restoration (FOLUR) Impact Program with funding from the Global Environment Facility.

09/02/2026

With support from Sida through the Embassy of Sweden in Monrovia, Conservation International–Liberia has officially established the Blue Ambassadors Program (BAP) in Sinoe County.

The Blue Ambassadors Program is a campus-based initiative under the Blue Ocean Programme that empowers students to champion environmental awareness, education, and stewardship through peer mentoring and community-driven actions.

The establishment of the Sinoe County chapter marks an important milestone and the beginning of the program’s expansion into Maryland, Grand Kru, and Rivercess Counties.

In Sinoe County, the program brings together students from St. Joseph Catholic High School, Baptist High School, and Sinoe Multilateral High School, creating a strong network of young environmental leaders.

The newly elected leadership of the Sinoe County BAP expressed heartfelt appreciation to their peers for the trust placed in them and thanked CI-Liberia for equipping and empowering them to play a leading role in protecting the environment.

Ambassador of Sweden to Liberia and Sierra Leone