Ganta, Nimba County – VOSIEDA, a non-governmental organization referred to as Volunteers for Sustainable Development In Africa (VOSIEDA), concluded a two-day Climate Mitigation and Adaptation training in Ganta, Nimba County.
By Franklin Doloquee/Nimba County
The two-day Climate-Smart Agriculture, Resilience, and Adaptation forum, under the VOSIEDA project titled “Building Community Resilience to Climate Impacts through Climate-Smart Small-Scale Farming,” brought together participants from Conservation International, Agriculture Relief Service (ARS), Women in Agriculture for Sustainable Development, NBC, the Liberia Land Authority, EPA, VOSIEDA, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Liberia Red Cross, local farmers, the Forestry Development Association, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, among others. This initiative was funded by the Swedish Embassy near Monrovia.
The goal of the VOSIEDA project is to strengthen communities’ resilience to climate change impacts through small-scale agricultural practices that promote increased and sustainable productivity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the agricultural sector.
Speaking to reporters in Ganta, Nimba County, the Program Manager for Food Security and Livelihood Enhancement for Volunteers for Sustainable Development In Africa (VOSIEDA), Abigail Coker, stated that the training will enable participants to understand how climate change will impact farmers.
She disclosed that the involvement of various government ministries, agencies, and NGOs will help make an impact in the fight against climate change in their respective counties and communities.
She explained that a forum will be created to enable participants to share their knowledge and hold meetings at various workplaces to contribute to the fight against climate change in the country.
The participants concluded with several recommendations aimed at strengthening collaboration among government, civil society organizations, the private sector, and local communities to mobilize resources and expertise for climate resilience. These recommendations include organizing social media platforms for sharing information, knowledge, and experiences; holding bi-annual climate mitigation experience-sharing forums; advocating for climate resilience education and training; and promoting gender-responsive approaches to climate adaptation.
The participants from various institutions, including government ministries, agencies, and NGOs, pledged their support toward…
Our Nimba County correspondent reported that during the forum, various institutions, including government ministries and agencies, shared their experiences regarding the effects of climate change in their respective areas of work and pledged to join the fight against climate change in the country.
“The gathering today has provided us with additional knowledge to plan and implement strategies to combat climate change in the country,” added the participants.
The Director Sector Coordinator at the Ministry of Agriculture, Peter D. Gbawoquiga, referred to the training as an eye-opener. He pledged to convey the message to his ministry to actively engage in the fight against climate change in the country.
According to him, addressing climate change requires the involvement of various institutions, including citizens, not just the government. He urged the participants to make an impact by actively participating in the fight against climate change in the country.
In his remarks, the Program Officer for Environment, Climate Change, and Natural Resources at the Embassy of Sweden, Jenkins Flahwor, pledged the embassy’s continued support for addressing climate change impacts and Liberia’s development.
He expressed the embassy’s satisfaction with supporting VOSIEDA activities, especially those related to climate change, which are crucial for the country.
“We at the Swedish Embassy are delighted to support your activities. We are all aware of the ongoing climate change that citizens continue to experience,” he said.
He explained that climate change has had adverse effects on farmers’ living conditions, particularly agricultural activities, and emphasized the need for government and development partners to engage in the fight against climate change, which he described as a global issue.