Liberia: EPA Convenes AAID Pillar 5 Environmental Sector Working Group Technical Meeting - FrontPageAfrica

05 Oct 2026, 07:01 · FrontPage Africa Online

Liberia: EPA Convenes AAID Pillar 5 Environmental Sector Working Group Technical Meeting

Monrovia — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia, through the AAID Pillar 5 Environmental Sector Working Group, has convened a technical meeting to review progress in the environmental sector, assess reporting requirements, address implementation challenges, and strengthen coordination among sector institutions.

The meeting, held at the EPA Headquarters in Mamba Point in Monrovia on Friday, October 2, 2026, brought together representatives of institutions within the environmental sector to review monthly reporting, identify gaps and bottlenecks, and discuss practical measures to improve coordination and implementation in line with Liberia’s national development priorities.

The team includes Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia (EPA), Ministry of Mines and Energy, Forestry Development Authority, Liberia Electricity Corporation, Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission, Rural Renewable Energy Agency, WASH Commission, Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation among others.

In his opening remarks, EPA Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo commended members of the Environmental Sector Working Group for their continued commitment and urged them to remain focused on delivering meaningful results for the Government and people of Liberia.

Dr. Yarkpawolo emphasized the importance of producing credible and timely data, noting that reliable information is essential for evidence-based decision-making and effective national planning.

“We must continue to work hard for our government and, more importantly, for the people of Liberia. The quality of the work we do today, especially the data we generate and the reports we submit, will help determine the direction of our country tomorrow.”

He encouraged sector institutions to go beyond routine responsibilities by ensuring that reports are accurate, timely, and useful for planning and decision-making.

The EPA Executive Director also called on institutions within the sector to develop and submit Public Sector Investment Program (PSIP) projects in accordance with the directives of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.

He stressed that effective planning, reliable data, proper reporting, and the development of well-prepared and bankable projects are important to advancing Liberia’s development priorities and strengthening investment in the environmental sector.

For his part, Mr. Christopher B. Kabah, Director of Planning and Policy at the EPA and Chair of the Technical Working Group, highlighted the importance of collective responsibility, coordination, and timely reporting.

Mr. Kabah urged members to view reporting as more than an administrative requirement, describing it as an important tool for tracking progress, identifying challenges, and determining the support needed to improve sector performance.

“Our reporting system must tell the story of what we are doing as a sector, where we are making progress, where the gaps are, and what support is required.”

He further encouraged members to strengthen collaboration and ensure that decisions and commitments made during sector meetings result in concrete actions and measurable results.

“We cannot advance the environmental sector if we work as individual institutions. Our strength is in our coordination, our data, our collective accountability, and our willingness to address challenges together.”

Representing the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Pillar 5 Coordinator Mr. Henry Kolubah provided an overview of the current reporting status under the AAID Pillar 5 framework.

His presentation highlighted progress made by sector institutions, outstanding reporting requirements, and areas requiring additional attention to ensure that sector reporting remains aligned with national planning and development priorities.

The meeting also provided an opportunity for participants to discuss challenges affecting implementation, clarify reporting requirements, identify areas requiring additional coordination and support, and agree on practical measures to improve the overall performance of the environmental sector.

The Forestry Development Authority (FDA), which serves as Secretary to the Technical Working Group, supported the organization and coordination of the meeting.

The EPA reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening coordination among environmental sector institutions and ensuring that planning, reporting, data management, and implementation are aligned with Liberia’s national development priorities.

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Liberia: EPA Convenes AAID Pillar 5 Environmental Sector Working Group Technical Meeting - FrontPageAfrica