The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia has embarked on a transformative journey towards environmental sustainability and inclusive development, unveiling a comprehensive five-year strategic plan spanning from 2025 to 2029. This ambitious roadmap, revealed during a media workshop in December 2024, signifies a renewed commitment to safeguarding Liberia’s natural resources and fostering a healthier environment for its citizens. The plan arises from a critical assessment of the previous strategic period (2022-2026), which saw a significant shortfall in achieving its objectives, with only 20% of the goals being realized. This introspection has led to a more robust and targeted approach, incorporating lessons learned and new insights gathered through a SWOT analysis involving EPA employees.
Central to the new strategic plan is its alignment with the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), a national framework aimed at driving sustainable growth and improving the quality of life for Liberians. The EPA’s contribution to the AAID focuses specifically on environmental sustainability, emphasizing responsible natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, and building resilience to environmental changes. This focus recognizes the interconnectedness between environmental health and overall national progress, highlighting the crucial role of environmental protection in achieving broader development goals. The plan is backed by a budget of US$32,078,000, signifying the government’s commitment to investing in environmental protection. A detailed 2025 work plan has also been developed, ensuring continuity and incorporating unfinished activities from the previous year, demonstrating a commitment to maximizing effectiveness and resource utilization.
The 2025 work plan, themed “Sustaining Environmental Management through Compliance Monitoring, Public Participation, and Reporting,” underscores the EPA’s dedication to transparency and community engagement. The primary outcome of this initiative is to create a healthier environment for all Liberians through enhanced compliance monitoring, active public participation, and transparent reporting. Crucially, the plan also emphasizes the establishment of functional local EPA offices across the country. This decentralization strategy seeks to extend the EPA’s reach and effectiveness, ensuring that environmental protection measures are implemented and enforced throughout Liberia, reaching even remote communities. This commitment to local presence reflects an understanding of the diverse environmental challenges faced across the nation and the need for tailored solutions.
The EPA’s strategic plan extends beyond national borders, encompassing Liberia’s commitment to international environmental agreements. Specifically, the agency will actively work towards fulfilling the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, a global accord aimed at mitigating climate change. By aligning its efforts with international commitments, the EPA demonstrates its commitment to global environmental stewardship and its recognition of the interconnectedness of environmental challenges. Supporting economic growth and enhancing the quality of life for citizens remain paramount objectives, tying into the overarching goal of sustainable development. This comprehensive approach recognizes that environmental protection and economic prosperity are not mutually exclusive but rather complementary facets of sustainable development.
By 2029, the EPA aims to achieve several key deliverables. These include decentralizing EPA services nationwide, strengthening the legal and regulatory framework for environmental protection, and promoting a circular economy by increasing the number of recycling business operators by 50%. Further demonstrating its commitment to climate action, the EPA plans to conduct an inventory of carbon stocks to assess the nation’s climate assets and leverage these assets for domestic revenue mobilization (DRM), targeting an increase of at least US$500,000. These initiatives reflect a proactive approach to leveraging environmental resources for economic benefit, strengthening the link between environmental protection and fiscal stability.
Beyond regulatory measures, the EPA plans to promote practical solutions to reduce environmental impact. This includes the distribution of over 200,000 affordable improved cook stoves (ICS), addressing both household air pollution and deforestation. This practical approach demonstrates a commitment to tangible improvements in the lives of Liberians while contributing to broader environmental goals. Collaboration with other government agencies on cross-cutting issues is also prioritized, ensuring a coordinated and holistic approach to addressing environmental challenges. This inter-agency collaboration recognizes the interconnected nature of various sectors and the need for a unified approach to achieve sustainable development.
The EPA’s strategic plan is structured around five interconnected pillars: Governance & Management; Institutional Strengthening & Capacity Building; Information, Education & Communication; Compliance & Enforcement; and International and National Environmental Commitments. These pillars provide a framework for comprehensive action, encompassing both internal capacity building and external engagement. The “Governance & Management” pillar focuses on ensuring effective leadership, efficient resource allocation, and accountability within the EPA. “Institutional Strengthening & Capacity Building” prioritizes enhancing the agency’s technical expertise, human resources, and infrastructure. “Information, Education & Communication” emphasizes raising public awareness about environmental issues and promoting community participation in environmental protection efforts. “Compliance & Enforcement” focuses on strengthening the regulatory framework and ensuring adherence to environmental laws and regulations. Finally, “International and National Environmental Commitments” guides the EPA’s efforts to fulfill both domestic and international environmental obligations. This multi-faceted approach ensures that the EPA is well-equipped to address the complex challenges of environmental protection and sustainable development. This comprehensive strategic plan represents a significant step forward for Liberia’s environmental future, underscoring the EPA’s dedication to creating a more sustainable and prosperous nation for all.
