By Jerromie S. Walters
In another unique front to heighten the call for climate justice, Actionaid Liberia recently held an elaborate Climate Justice Fair, that endeavored to showcase green innovations, foster partnerships, ensure policy alignment, provide capacity building, and facilitate funding opportunities for youth entrepreneurs and bridge gaps in the Liberian context by facilitating market access.
The Fair, held Friday, May 3, 2024, at the famous Invincible Sports Park in Fish Market, Sinkor, Tubman Boulevard, aimed to support young entrepreneurs in scaling their green businesses and contributing to sustainable environmental practices in Liberia.
Local Liberian businesses were showcased for promotion purposes while as a means of displaying how they have been contributing to ensure a safe, clean, and green environment as well as contributing to Climate Justice.
The occasion was graced by government institutions, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), Actionaid staff, and Climate Justice Network members, among others.
Earlier during the introductory and welcome remark, Actionaid Country Director, Elizabeth G. Johnson – said the fair was intended to showcase green innovation, festering partnerships, ensure policy alignment, provide capacity building and empower communities to be able to act when it comes to actualizing a green environment.
She recalled the institution’s commitment over the last five years, toward working around climate justice issues. Moreover, she branded the Fair as a testament to some of the astute work Actionaid has been doing over the years
Madam Johnson said the fair was also intended to raise awareness about climate finance, concisely on how state actors can now redirect funding to look at alternatives when it comes to addressing climate justice.
Enraged in astonishment, Montse Pantaleoni, Team Leader of Green Economy EU Delegation to Liberia hailed Actionaid’s team for the fair and admitted that she was surprised to have seen what a green fair looks like in Liberia.
“Liberia is full of natural resources and we need to be able to transform them locally for the benefit of the people,” she said. Pantaleoni expressed her excitement about seeing Liberian products that were displayed during the Fair.
In a remark, Francis Mulbah, Assistant Minister for Planning at the Ministry of Agriculture welcomed the conduct of the Fair, as like many others, he believes climate change is everybody’s business.
He attributes the current wave of Liberia’s climate crises to man-made activities, like how farms are cultivated, garland farming for production, and meal preparation, among others.
Considering this, he said the Ministry of Agriculture is currently working on its national agricultural development plan to promote lowland farming, collective farming, and other climate-sensitive farming.
He also encouraged the need for Liberians to adopt climate-smart practices that can be used in daily activities. He emphasized the need for Liberia to implement regional and international policies that are geared towards ensuring climate justice.
Like Mulbah, Joseph Kpala of Green City acknowledged the significance of the Fair and said ActionAid fair aligned with Green City’s aims and objectives. “We all are in it together when it comes to climate change because our focus is to create a clean, green, and healthy environment through the waste value chain.”
The occasion entertained remarks, spoken word, Pitching – Gallery Walk Display of Green Innovation by groups) as well as Climate Justice Song – GP Artists performance.
In a bid to strengthen the works of local farmers across the country, implementers of the Agriculture Transformation and Refertilisation Project (STAR Project) talked through their initiative.
According to them, the project supports farmers in three value chains, including rice, oil palm, and cult-culture (vegetables) and it is currently being implemented in the fifteen counties.
As the project endeavors to increase the productivity and commercialization of small businesses, the implementers say it is open to all farmers across Liberia.
Actionaid Liberia (AAL) is a human rights and social justice organization operating in Liberia since 1997 to advance the rights of women, children, young people, and excluded and marginalized communities and shift the development paradigm to one that is people-centered, utilizing our human rights-based approach (HRBA) and an intersectional feminist analysis across all programs, campaigns, policy, advocacy, and partnerships. In taking sides with the most excluded, this has meant that AAL is often present in rural and physically hard-to-reach communities.
AAL’s interventions and advocacy are aligned with our solidarity with the struggles of the communities and groups we work with. We are known for a non-negotiable stance on human rights, especially as it pertains to the rights of women and the most excluded in Liberian society.
AAL is part of ActionAid International Federation headquartered in Johannesburg with member organizations present in 45 countries around the world, sharing common values and efforts to drive social change towards a more just and sustainable world.
