MONROVIA, LIBERIA-VOSIEDA WEST AFRICA, and Partners have officially launched the National Multi-Stakeholders Platform on Zero Deforestation in Monrovia.
The launch of such a major national initiative is aimed at coordinating efforts to halt deforestation and promote sustainable forest management across the country.
It brought together representatives from the Government of Liberia, civil society organizations, community leaders, international partners, and the Private Sector.
During the event, representatives from Liberia’s environmental sector emphasized that the new platform would serve as a central mechanism for policy coordination, information sharing, and implementation of national strategies related to forest conservation and climate change mitigation.
The project is being managed by the Welt Hunger HiLife (WHH) and implemented by VOSIEDA, in collaboration with the Government of Liberia, Private Sector partners, and civil society organizations, covering the period of 2025-2028.
The National Multi-Stakeholder Platform unites the government, communities, and the Private Sector to ensure that Liberia achieves zero deforestation by 2030.
Launching the platform, Deputy Agriculture Minister for Planning and Development, David Akoi, urged VOSEIDA and its partners to not only launch the platform but also call for a meeting to develop a clear roadmap on how the platform will operate.
The National Multi-Stakeholders Platform will serve as the heartbeat of Liberia’s effort to manage forests sustainably.
The UNDP, through its Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, Spencer Salime, said,” The institution remains committed to working with all partners to ensure that the strategies developed translate into practical, inclusive, and impactful actions”.
He also congratulated VOSIEDA and its partners, including all stakeholders, on making the launch possible.
As the Manager of the Project, WHH Country Director, Hubert Charles, called for inclusive participation and stronger community engagement.
Director Charles emphasized that by facilitating open dialogue and evidence-based engagements, the MSP will help enhance the efficiency of environmental governance, improve enforcement of regulation, and ensure implementation of international commitments of sustainable forest management, among others.
During the ceremony on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at De Calabash Hotel in Paynesville City, Stakeholders officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding, marking a new chapter in Liberia’s fight against deforestation.
Meanwhile, representatives from the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Liberia Land Authority (LLA), and the Private Sector, among others, affirmed their commitments to ensuring that ‘MSP’ becomes a reality.
It was not just a launch, but a commitment that Liberia’s forest will not be penetrated by violators who are regularly involved in the cutting of trees for other purposes.