EPA Liberia Participates in African Regional National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Workshop in NairobiCross-section of Participants at the workshop

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia actively participated in the just ended African Regional Workshop on National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), held in Nairobi, Kenya from June 8 to 11, 2025. The workshop, jointly organized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), brought together key representatives from across the African continent and Small Island Developing States (SIDs) to discuss climate adaptation strategies and enhance regional collaboration.

Representing Liberia at this high-level technical gathering were Mr. Arthur R.M. Becker, Director of the Department of Multilateral Environmental Agreements at the Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia, and Mr. Teddy Penneku Taylor, Climate Change Assistant. The two delegates played an active role in discussions focusing on strengthening national institutional frameworks, integrating climate change adaptation into development planning, and leveraging finance for the implementation of NAPs.

The regional workshop was aimed at building the capacity of the LDCs and SIDS to accelerate the formulation and implementation of NAPs. It will focus on building the capacity of countries in applying the updated technical guidelines for the formulation and implementation of NAPs, expedited submission of NAPs to comply with the 2025 deadline, and developing a comprehensive resource mobilization strategy as part of the NAP targeting a wide variety of sources and modalities within and outside the UNFCCC Financial Mechanism.

Throughout the four-day event, Mr. Becker and Mr. Taylor engaged with regional and international experts on adaptation planning, participated in knowledge-sharing sessions, and exchanged best practices with fellow African counterparts. The Liberian delegation highlighted the country’s recent progress in climate governance, including the development of its revised NAP framework, its commitment to community-based adaptation, and efforts to mainstream climate resilience into national policies.

“Liberia continues to make steady strides in ensuring that climate change adaptation is integrated into our national development agenda,” said Mr. Becker during a country team discussion strengthening institutional coordination. “Our participation in this workshop has reaffirmed the importance of regional cooperation and knowledge sharing as we build systems that can effectively respond to climate risks.”

The workshop also covered practical tools and methodologies to assess climate risks, prioritize adaptation actions, and enhance multi-stakeholder engagement. For Liberia, the experience is expected to feed directly into ongoing national efforts to implement Liberia’s NAP and to align it more closely with its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the country’s ARREST Agenda for Prosperity and Development (AAID).

The Nairobi workshop marked a significant milestone in regional climate dialogue and capacity-building, setting the stage for increased collaboration among LDCs and SIDS in Africa.

Liberia’s participation reflects the EPA’s continued commitment to international climate cooperation and its proactive approach to building national resilience in the face of growing climate challenges.

The EPA team has returned with renewed resolve to accelerate adaptation actions and to contribute more robustly to the global climate agenda in the lead-up to the next UN climate summit- UNFCCC COP 30 to be held later this November in Balem, Brazil.