Paynesville: The Community of Hope Agriculture Project (CHAP), Liberia’s focal organization for the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and the National Executing Entity for the RICOWAS Project, has concluded a three-day quarterly review workshop aimed at strengthening staff capacity in project implementation, monitoring, compliance, and accountability.
The workshop, held from April 29 to May 1 in Paynesville, brought together CHAP staff, project partners, and stakeholders involved in Liberia’s rice value chain.
The initiative was funded by the Adaptation Fund through the Sahara and Sahel Observatory.
According to organizers, the workshop focused on reviewing progress made under ongoing agricultural and livelihood interventions while identifying operational challenges affecting implementation in rural communities.
Discussions also centered on improving service delivery, strengthening internal systems, and ensuring compliance with donor and government regulations.
The Organizers said, the engagement was intended to strengthen staff capacity in monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL), documentation and reporting, safeguarding, financial management, and accountability mechanisms to support effective implementation of the RICOWAS Project and other agricultural initiatives.
Speaking during the opening session, CHAP Executive Director Bishop Robert S. M. Bimba emphasized the importance of collaboration, adaptive management, and continuous learning in achieving sustainable agricultural development.
He noted that strengthening technical knowledge and institutional systems remains critical to improving food security, resilience, and livelihoods among smallholder farmers and vulnerable households across Liberia.
The workshop featured sessions on compliance requirements, financial accountability, safeguarding policies, audit readiness, and community feedback mechanisms.
Technical discussions also focused on Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) and the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), including scaling strategies and field experiences from project communities.
Participants engaged in group exercises and plenary discussions aimed at documenting lessons learned and developing practical action plans to improve program delivery and long-term sustainability.
Organizers said expected outcomes of the workshop include improved quality assurance in project implementation, enhanced staff capacity in MEL practices, stronger alignment with project results frameworks, and increased accountability and transparency within CHAP operations.
The final day of the workshop focused on integrating technical and compliance approaches, strengthening accountability systems, and developing action plans to improve sustainability and project impact.
Established in 2008, CHAP serves as Liberia’s SRI focal organization and the National Executing Entity for the RICOWAS Project.
The organization is also recognized as an implementing partner of the Ministry of Agriculture under the TASMOA Seed Rice Production initiative and as the pioneer of the “I Love Liberian Rice” and “Feed Liberia” campaigns.
CHAP also acknowledged the support of partners, including Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide, for contributing to the success of the quarterly review workshop.