Monrovia – The Partners in Development (PADEV), a local NGO in the forest sector, has conducted a one-day orientation for its community engagement officers (CEOs), who are going to be sent into the field for a 15-month Forestry Development Authority (FDA) project that they (PADEV) are implementing.
Speaking on the orientation of the (CEOs), PADEV Lead Nobel Jackson, said the project, which is under the title, “Awareness Raising and Support for the Establishment of Community Forest Governance Entities for the Liberia Forest Sector Project,” is expected to be conducted in 40 communities in Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Sinoe, Gbarpolu, Grand Cape and Grand Kru counties.
The CEOs will be expected to educate community dwellers in those counties on the value of the forest as a resource and the products and services it provides to community members (non-timber forest products, fuel wood, fresh water, protein from hunting, building materials, etc.
“You CEOs will also inform them about how economically productive and environmentally sustainable livelihood activities can be obtained from the forest,” Jackson said Wednesday, October 16.
Jackson further admonished them to serve as ambassadors of PADEV in the intervention zones. “Collaborate and coordinate with FDA and LFSP cadre assigned in the target communities in support of the implementation of project activities; provide support to resolve forest resource related challenges and comprehensively document their mitigation approach; conduct regular field visits in designated communities; organize and conduct village-to-village information campaigns; participate in regular monthly coordination meetings to review planned activities, determine the effectiveness of the implementation of project activities, identify challenges, revise activity plan where required and suggest recommendations through written reports; with the support of field-based coordinator, organize regular town-hall meetings with community stakeholders and representatives of forest governance entities to discuss issues related to their forest resources,” the PADEV Lead urged them.
Speaking earlier the Technical Manager, Community Forestry Department, FDA, Att’y Gertrude W. K. Nyaley, said the LFSP is a project, which is a support to the Liberian Government from the Norwegian Government.
“They decided to support us to build our capacity to practice sustainable forest management,” Att’y Nyaley stated. She further stated that because the government through the FDA can’t do it on its own so it was partnering with PADEV, which is a civil society actor in the forest sector.
According to her PADEV will create awareness on governance among community forest dwellers. “Governance has become a very major issue in our country today. If we as technicians in the forestry sector don’t work together to make sure that we have a hold on governance there would be a complete breakdown in community forestry,” she said.
The FDA technician warned that there are several persons who are intervening and participating in community forestry, who, according to her should not be a part of it.
Also speaking, Att’y Roland J. Lepol, Deputy, National Coordinator, REDD+ Implementation Unity, FDA, disclosed that the LFSP is funded by the Norwegian Government through the World Bank and the project is being implemented by the FDA together with six other “project implementing agencies,” which are all government entities, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Authority, Environmental Protection Agency.
He stated that they are working with PADEV to support communities manage their own forests especially in the areas of governance system and increasing awareness so that they are more knowledgeable about how the forest is managed.
He praise PADEV for so doing a “very good job,” citing some of its initial reports as good.
About PADEV
PADEV was founded in August 2016. It was formed to contribute to national development, by maintaining the cadre of staff who worked for USAID supported projects, that administered community based natural resource management (CBNRM) activities in Liberia. Founders of PADEV have extensive experience in CBNRM and development works deeply rooted in their long-term services with national and international organizations.