Monrovia, Liberia — Wethungerhilfe (WHH) Liberia, in partnership with its national implementing partner, the Community of Hope Agriculture Project (CHAP), has officially launched the Climate-Resilient Rice Production in Grand Gedeh and Montserrado Project, following a successful three-day inception workshop held January 28–30, 2026, at the Corina Hotel in Monrovia.
The workshop brought together government institutions, development partners, security agencies, private sector actors, and civil society organizations to align on project objectives, implementation strategies, roles, and results frameworks.
Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the project aims to promote climate-resilient rice production and processing, strengthen a market-oriented rice sector, and contribute to food and nutrition security, improved livelihoods, and inclusive economic growth.
The initiative targets 500 hectares of lowland rice in Grand Gedeh and Montserrado Counties (2025–2029), directly supporting 1,200 farmers and 24 cooperatives.
Key stakeholders in attendance included the Liberia Land Authority, National Rice Federation of Liberia (NRFL), Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), local authorities, agribusinesses, and other rice value-chain actors.
Partners commended the project’s strong implementation design, active youth participation, and its contribution to sustainability and national ownership in Liberia’s rice sector.
Speaking on behalf of WHH, Country Director Hubert Charles emphasized the importance of local production, accountability, and strong institutions, noting that consuming locally produced rice supports job creation, strengthens the economy, and enhances national food security.
The project is 75% financed by BMZ and 25% by WHH, with additional support for project management, compliance, reporting, and institutional capacity strengthening for CHAP.
It aligns with Liberia’s National Agricultural Development Plan and the government’s ARREST Agenda, advancing WHH’s global vision of “Zero Hunger on a Healthy Planet.”
CHAP was announced as WHH’s eighth national implementing partner in Liberia and will lead System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and Crop Intensification approaches. CHAP Executive Director Bishop Robert Bimba described the initiative as an investment to transform farming into a viable business, empower farmers, and deliver long-term national impact, while emphasizing accountability, transparency, and the promotion of locally produced Liberian rice.
The workshop concluded with renewed commitments from all partners to collaborate, uphold accountability, and deliver lasting results for smallholder farmers—contributing to Liberia’s food security and long-term economic stability.