Liberia’s stakeholders reflect on progress and challenges in forest governance

The Stakeholder Performance Analysis (SPA), supported by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), builds on earlier stakeholder mapping and draws from extensive interviews and consultations held in June 2025. The report examines how different actors—ranging from government institutions and civil society groups to the private sector and forest communities—engage in and influence the ongoing VPA process.

Strengthened participation, but uneven influence

The analysis finds that awareness and engagement in the VPA process have grown markedly since 2023. National structures such as the Joint Implementation Committee (JIC) and the Liberia Implementation Committee have become more active, spurring renewed dialogue across sectors.

At the same time, the report highlights persistent gaps. Strategic decision-making remains concentrated among the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) and the EU Delegation, while civil society organisations, communities, and some ministries struggle with limited resources, unclear mandates, and weak institutional backing.

Stakeholders acknowledged notable progress—such as consolidation of legality tools, reactivation of multi-stakeholder platforms, and improved transparency in community benefit management through the National Benefit Sharing Trust Board (NBSTB). However, challenges remain: more than a decade into the VPA process, no FLEGT license has been issued, inter-ministerial coordination is still fragmented, and national financing for implementation is lacking.

Community voices underscore inclusion gaps

Community-level consultations shed light on both achievements and unmet needs. In Grand Bassa County’s Masavaguah Community Forest, participants emphasised the importance of transparent benefit-sharing and stronger local governance. In Lofa County, the Salayea Community Forest case study demonstrated the potential of linking conservation with livelihood initiatives like beekeeping and savings cooperatives.

While community representation in national bodies has improved, many participants noted that being consulted is not the same as being empowered. Sustaining engagement, they said, will require more logistical support, legal clarity, and financial inclusion.

Charting the path to a new Forest Partnership

As Liberia and the EU move toward a broader Forest Partnership, the SPA outlines several priorities: legalising participatory structures such as the JIC and NMSMC, establishing dedicated budget lines, clarifying institutional mandates, and empowering local voices through targeted capacity-building.

Without these reforms, the report warns, the transition risks losing the momentum built under the VPA framework. Still, confidence in the multi-stakeholder approach remains strong, particularly if national ownership is strengthened.

“Liberia’s forest governance stands at a crossroads,” the report concludes. “Only through a reformed and credible platform can the country maintain stakeholder confidence and deliver on its commitments to sustainable forest management, climate goals, and inclusive development.”

For more information on the analysis and NIRAS’s ongoing support to forest governance in Liberia, visit Listening to Liberian stakeholders in forestry governance.