James T. Brooks
MONROVIA, LIBERIA – The Government of Liberia and the European Union (EU) have officially entered into a landmark €25 million grant agreement designed to revitalize the nation’s artisanal fishing sector. This strategic partnership aims to enhance food security, modernize the fisheries value chain, and uplift the livelihoods of thousands of people across Liberia’s coastal regions.
The formal signing ceremony took place on Friday, January 23, 2026, at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning in Monrovia. The event was attended by senior Liberian government officials, members of the European Union delegation, and various development partners committed to Liberia’s economic transformation.
This expansive project specifically targets Liberia’s nine coastal counties: Bomi, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Kru, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Rivercess, and Sinoe. The primary objective is to modernize infrastructure to drastically reduce post-harvest losses, a challenge that currently sees significant portions of local catches go to waste due to inadequate preservation technology.
During the signing, Minister of Finance and Development Planning Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan emphasized that the funding is a grant rather than a loan. He described the agreement as a testament to the EU’s reliable and enduring partnership with Liberia, particularly during periods of economic pressure. “This is not about bringing cartons of fish into the country,” Minister Ngafuan remarked. “You have come to help us fish for ourselves.”
The initiative will fund the construction of modern cold rooms and the installation of ice-making machines at critical landing sites. These upgrades are expected to stabilize market prices, reduce waste, and directly increase the daily incomes of fishing households.
Acting Director General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), J. Cyrus Saygbe Sr., hailed the agreement as a milestone for sector productivity. He noted that the grant complements ongoing government reforms, such as the 25% reduction in canoe licensing fees and intensified enforcement against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in collaboration with the Liberia Coast Guard.
EU Ambassador to Liberia Nona Deprez reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to the nation’s development priorities. She highlighted that because fisheries are essential to the survival and nutrition of coastal inhabitants, this project is strategically aligned with Liberia’s “ARREST” agenda to protect household incomes and national resilience.
A core component of the €25 million investment is dedicated to education and technical training. The project will support specialized programs at the University of Liberia, Tubman University, and various community colleges to build a professional, homegrown workforce of fisheries experts.
Furthermore, the grant will support NaFAA’s decentralization plan, which includes opening regional offices to bring regulatory services and technical support closer to the communities they serve. Government officials concluded that the project’s success will ultimately be measured by the tangible improvements in the economic stability and daily welfare of artisanal fishermen and fish mongers across the country.
Comments are closed.