Monrovia – The Sustainable Development Institute (SDI), alongside three other African Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) from Cameroon, Ghana, and the Republic of Congo, in collaboration with Fern, is urging their respective governments to call on the European Commission (EC) to reconsider its unilateral decision to terminate Liberia’s Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA).
Last week, SDI representatives traveled to Brussels and Paris to engage with European policymakers. During discussions with Members of the European Parliament from various political groups, it was revealed that many were either uninformed or misinformed about the EC’s decision to terminate the VPA. Likewise, SDI met with representatives from European Member States who had not been adequately consulted regarding the termination.
Given the VPA’s critical role in addressing illegalities and deforestation in Liberia, SDI is advocating for the European Commission to revise its proposal. The organization is calling for the coexistence of the VPA and a proposed Forest Partnership, rather than replacing the legally binding VPA with the non-binding Forest Partnership, whose content and ambitions remain vague and lack parliamentary oversight.
SDI highlights that in countries like Guyana, the Republic of Congo, and Honduras, VPAs and Forest Partnerships successfully coexist. These agreements complement each other, with the Forest Partnership serving as a coordination tool that builds upon the VPA’s effective implementation. During their visit to Brussels and Paris from January 27-30, 2025, SDI representatives confirmed with European Commission officials that the coexistence model remains viable and relevant.
“We are convinced that the coexistence approach will foster dialogue among governments, CSOs, and other stakeholders, ensuring the objectives of the VPA are met. The VPA should be strengthened with a Forest Partnership, not replaced by it,” stated Jonathan W. Yiah, Forest Governance Program Team Leader at SDI. “This will allow necessary adjustments and improvements for an effective partnership with the EU.”
The coexistence approach, SDI argues, is a sustainable solution to upholding VPA achievements while enhancing forest governance. It ensures continued transparency, stakeholder participation, and the fight against illegal logging. Terminating the VPA, according to SDI, would derail Liberia’s progress, potentially returning the country to past practices where forest exploitation disproportionately benefited a few rather than the broader population.
Jonathan Yiah further emphasized, “We urge the EC to invest in multi-stakeholder dialogues aimed at strengthening the VPA through a Forest Partnership rather than terminating it. Collaborative solutions are essential. Sustaining the VPA and encouraging a coexistence approach is the best way forward at this stage.”
The call from SDI and its partners underscores the importance of maintaining a structured, legally binding framework that prioritizes environmental protection, economic stability, and the livelihoods of communities dependent on Liberia’s forests.
