LocationsGlobal Partners Back Liberia’s Blue Economy
March 31, 2026
The President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr, has officially launched the 10-year National Fisheries Plan at the official opening of the National Fisheries Investment Conference held at the Farmington Hotel in Margibi County. The plan is aimed to mobilize investment and collective action to develop Liberia’s fisheries sector.
Convening national, regional, and international stakeholders from the 21 countries, this two-day conference was under the theme “Unlocking Blue Horizons: The Future of Fisheries and Blue Economy. “The conference marks a significant milestone in Liberia’s efforts to position its fisheries sector as a strategic driver of food security, employment, and sustainable economic growth.
Government’s commitment
In his address, President Boakai underscored the country’s commitment to transform the fisheries sector through targeted reforms, infrastructure development, and strengthened regional cooperation. He highlighted ongoing investments in cold storage systems, fisheries infrastructure, and value chain development, while reaffirming Liberia’s openness to responsible and sustainable private sector investment.
“To those considering investment in Liberia's fisheries, hear me clearly: we are open for business, but we are not open for exploitation. We seek partners who will build local capacity, who will respect our environmental standards, and who will share the benefits with our communities,” President emphasized, adding that his Administration is committed to creating an enabling environment through the new Public Private Partnership (PPP) strategy with streamlined regulations.
UNDP’s intervention
Liberia’s 579-kilometer coastline and 348,000 metric tons of exploitable fish stocks have positioned the nation as a rising destination for blue economy investment. To capitalize on this potential, the UNDP Liberia Resident Representative, Mr. Aliou Dia noted that UNDP is championing Liberia’s environmental stability through the $25 million Monrovia Metropolitan Climate Resilience Project (MMCRP), a flagship initiative focused on safeguarding vulnerable coastal communities.
By prioritizing the establishment of marine protected areas and the large-scale restoration of mangroves, the project builds natural defenses against climate change while strengthening local resilience.
"This effort underscores a commitment to sustainable coastal management, ensuring that Liberia’s ecological health and community safety are integrated into its broader economic growth," Dia emphasized.
He noted that while the fisheries sector remains a vital source of livelihoods and food security, it continues to face structural challenges including limited infrastructure, fragmented systems, and constrained market access.
He added that "scaling the sector will require strategic investments in cold chain systems, processing facilities, and the development of bankable investment pipelines, alongside policy coherence and institutional coordination".
The UNDP Liberia Resident Representative then highlighted the agency's ongoing support to investments in solar powered cold storage infrastructure in coastal communities, including Robertsport, with additional facilities planned for Sinoe and Rivercess Counties.
These interventions aim to reduce post-harvest losses, stabilize incomes, and improve market access for fishing communities.
Reaffirming the UNDP’s commitment to supporting the Government of Liberia in advancing a resilient and inclusive blue economy, Dia outlined that the $10 million Strengthening Agricultural Resilience through Transformational Livelihood Adaptation (SARTLA) project jointly implemented by Government of Liberia with funding from Global Environment Facility (GEF) is designed to enhance climate resilience, promote sustainable fisheries and agriculture, support ecotourism, and strengthen livelihoods across multiple counties.
Global Partners Signal Economic Confidence
Correspondingly, International Partners, including the EU, the World Bank, and the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), are mobilizing significant resources to transform Liberia’s blue economy into a sustainable and investment-ready sector.
The European Union is spearheading this effort with a €25 million program for artisanal fishers and exploring innovative green and blue bonds to modernize maritime infrastructure. Complementing these financial tools, the World Bank is investing in long-term capacity building through fisheries academic programs, digital monitoring systems, and technical support for women-led enterprises.
To ensure these investments are protected, the FCWC is prioritizing regional collaboration and joint patrols to combat illegal fishing, emphasizing that a unified approach to ocean governance is essential for the region's shared prosperity.
The conference is expected to generate new partnerships, unlock investment opportunities, and accelerate the development of a sustainable fisheries sector that benefits communities across Liberia. Countries present were Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Morocco, Sierra Leon, Ivory Coast and others.
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