PEACCEP Liberia, Partners Train Forty Emerging Environmental Leaders to Promote Environmental Sustainability

MONROVIA- The Partnership for Environmental Actions on Climate Change and Ecosystem Protection (PEACCEP) together with its partners, NAP Global Network,  Eco Climate Initiative, YMCA Liberia, and technical support from the Government of Liberia through the Environmental Protection Agency of has ended a three-day intensive National Environmental Leadership Training Program with forty environmental leaders in different environmental specific thematic areas.

The training was held from October 4-6, 2023 at the headquarters of the Young Men Christian Association(YMCA) Liberia on the theme: “Transforming Tomorrow by Building Green Leaders for Environmental Sustainability.” The training was aimed at investing in a new and dynamic generation of professional environmental leaders to lead change for environmental transition and sustainability across Liberia and the world at large. It was facilitated by professional experts nationally and internationally who are climate change scientists, researchers, policy experts, environmentalists, conservationists, marine science specialists, environmental leaders, and managers.

The high-level opening of the National Environmental Leadership Training Program 2023 on October 4, 2023, was graced by Louis Kuukpen, UNDP Liberia- Acting Resident Representative, Megan Kyles- USAID Liberia Economic Growth Office Director, Madam Elizabeth G. Johnson- Country Representative ActionAid Liberia, and Mr. Benjamin S. Karmorh, Jr- Chief Technical Advisor, Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia.

Madam Georgia Wallen- World Bank Liberia Country Manager served as keynote speaker at the opening of the training. In her remarks, Madam Wallen urged participants to use the training to deepen their understanding of the interplay between the environment, society, and economy.   Madam Wallen further mentioned that wise and committed leadership is vital for charting a path to greener, more inclusive, and more resilient development.  She also averred that together, participants from the training can lead the change required for strong environmental leadership that matters in Liberia and the wider world. 

She ended by noting that participants shouldn’t under-estimate the greatness of  Liberia or the value of its vast natural endowments, stating that Liberia’s natural resource endowments are a globally significant asset and how participants steward the resources is important for communities, for Liberia, for the region, and for the world is vital.

The training also provided professional knowledge and skills to participants on different thematic areas such as Environmental Leadership, Climate Change Education, Nature-Based solutions, Liberia’s experience towards implementation of National Adaptation Plans: Challenges, successes and lessons learned, Gender and Climate Change, Understanding the science of climate change as a pathway to environmental sustainability, Climate Justice and Advocacy, Loss and Damage, Actions for the Oceans in promoting a sustainable Blue Economy in Africa, The Role of Multilateral Development Institutions to Address Environmental Sustainability: Case Study of the World Bank among others.  Participants were also taught how to initiate project ideas and actions aimed at addressing environmental challenges and promoting environmental sustainability. Three(3) project ideas were developed during the training, which will be further developed and shared with different partners national and International for possible support for implementation.

Making remarks at the close of the training program which also saw the certification of the over forty(40) participants, Mr. Arthur R.M. Becker- Lead organizer of the National Environmental Leadership Training who is also a 2023  Alumnus of the Beahrs Environmental Leadership Program 2023 at University of California, Berkeley- USA, expressed excitement that he is able to return to Liberia after ELP 23 and organize a National Environmental Leadership Training Program to sharing skills and knowledge he acquired during his participation at the ELP 2023 program and also afford professionals back home to build their capacity towards promoting environmental leadership and sustainability. He thanked the NAP Global Network for their support to have him attend the Beahrs ELP 2023 Program and also support the organization of the NELTP 2023 to share his experiences with his colleagues back home. He admonished participants to utilize wisely the skills and knowledge to lead the change that Liberia and the world direly need. He also expressed great satisfaction with the gender equality participation (50/50) during the training. This in his opinion, is a demonstration that the outcomes of the training took into account gender sensitivity and considerations.

Mr. Becker also used the medium to appeal to partners to continue to support these initiatives and looks forward to increasing partnerships to further build the capacity of professionals, youth, students, CSOs, the media, etc. on the promotion of environmental sustainability. He stated that in 2024, another National Environmental Leadership Training Program will be held to train more national experts. Besides, there are a series of other environmental leadership and awareness trainings planned.