Congo Town – Partners in Development (PADEV) has successfully completed three targeted interventions, reaching over 6,000 beneficiaries in four counties in southeastern Liberia under the Community-Based Forestry and Protected Area Management (CBFM) Project.
The key areas of interventions focused on forest governance, biodiversity-compatible livelihood and enterprise development activities and strategic communication. These activities were implemented in three phases from 2024-2026 across 30 communities in Grand Gedeh, River Cess, s,Sinoe and River Gee Counties.
In forest governance, FDA approved project six project supported applicant communities which met the legal requirements to attain Authorized Forest Community (AFC) status.
Furthermore, 152 people representing their communities in forest governance activities successfully completed leadership and governance training in Grand Gedeh and River Gee Counties.
These efforts bridged relationship and coordination gaps between the forest governance institutions and the local authorities of Konobo and Glio-Twarbo Districts in Grand Gedeh on one hand; and the forest governance entity and the local authorities of Sarbo, Putupo and Gbeapo Districts on the other.
In livelihoods, 200 farmers received direct site-based training in climate-smart agriculture (CSA). Farmers trained were equipped with essential farming tools and supplied quality agricultural input.
The 20 most consistent farmers who adapted the CSA approach received support during all three phases of the project.
They raised a cumulative amount of L$218,375 from the sale of hot pepper and local cowpea while they wait for the over 6000 plantain suckers they cultivated to mature for harvest and the market.
A total of 12 resilient village saving and loan associations (VSLAs) maintained active operations during the project in line
with plans to sustain access to finance. With an aggregate membership of 347, the 12 VSLAs raised L$5,395,220 in dues, fines and social funds towards the end of the 2026 cohort.
For the green-enterprise program, CBFM trained 200 beekeepers, supplied 300 beehives and equipped them with essential beekeeping materials including bee-suits, raingear, smokers, plastic containers, harvesting knives and handouts.
In addition to this support, two local beekeeping associations were reorganized, formalized and given logistics to increase their operational capacity.
In strategic communication program, the project formed one community theatre troupe to reduce community reliance on external project-funded entertain group for public outreach.
The 17-member troupe successfully completed training in local choreography, traditional Liberian folksongs and was equipped with costumes and choreography materials to enhance its activities.
To further expand community awareness, 40 community women were trained and supplied with megaphones loaded with pre-recorded messages in local languages and illustrative posters to conduct awareness in their communities.
To support their efforts, the women were given monthly stipend during the first and second phases of the project.
As part of efforts to empower forest entrepreneurs, CBFM facilitated the formation of one community-based organization (CBO) in Weasayn Community, Rivercess County.
The 37-member group was supported with infrastructure and logistics to buy and aggregate nontimber forest products for farmers and sell to external buyers.
As a start, they raised L$195k from the sale of the country spice in the first quarter of 2026.
In enterprise activities, the project constructed one mini-warehouse to serve as an aggregation hub for local farmers, producers and marketers. Additionally, the project procured and delivered one tricycle to the community to enhance transportation for farmers and producers.
The tricycle has loading capacity of 1.5tons
The project was designed to strengthen the management of community forests and protected areas in Liberia, through improved governance of community forest management bodies (CFMBs), capacity building of forest regulatory institutions, empowerment of national civil society organizations, (CSOs/NGOs) and Forest and Farm Producer Organizations, integrated natural resources management and the promotion of sustainable livelihood incentives for forest fringe communities.
The project was funded by the Swedish Embassy with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in coordination with the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) to complement the role of FDA in the sustainable management of protected and community forests.
CBFM served seven counties including four in the Southeast which covered Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Sinoe and River Cess Counties and three in the Northwest which included Gbarpolu, Grand Cape Mount and Lofa Counties.
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