Monrovia, Liberia – The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), under the leadership of Acting Director General for Administration, J. Cyrus Saygbe Sr., has successfully reconvened the Fisheries Development Partners Coordination Group Meeting, marking a renewed commitment to effective collaboration, transparency, and strategic alignment in the development of Liberia’s fisheries sector. The meeting, held on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at NaFAA’s Administrative Headquarters in Monrovia, brought together key representatives from leading development partners and international organizations, including the World Bank, European Union, U.S. Embassy, JICA, GIZ, FAO, UNDP, and the Embassies of Egypt and Sweden.
The objective of the meeting was to reinvigorate structured coordination among donor partners to enhance efficiency, foster synergy, and align development interventions with Liberia’s national priorities, particularly the ARREST Agenda for inclusive development. Discussions focused on several strategic areas, including the current status of the EU yellow card, progress updates on the Liberia Sustainable Management of Fisheries Project and the OPEC-funded Integrated Fisheries Sector Strengthening Project, and operational challenges related to debt, staffing, and logistics.
The meeting concluded with a series of key action points: the development of a debt management plan in coordination with the Ministry of Finance; the circulation of a tracking tool for project alignment; the planning of a Fisheries Investment Forum in February 2026; and the finalization of recruitment for key technical positions under the OPEC-funded project by the end of June. In a strong show of support, the European Union was nominated and accepted the role of Co-Chair of the Coordination Group. EU Representative Maria Winnubst praised NaFAA for its leadership, stating that, “NaFAA has taken the leadership role to coordinate and organize donors more professionally.”
Development partners expressed firm support for NaFAA’s renewed direction. GIZ announced its intention to launch fisheries-related programs in West Africa with Liberia as a priority. JICA, represented via Zoom by Chhieko Toshk, confirmed its ongoing collaboration with NaFAA to identify new avenues of support. FAO Representative Chelleh Michell introduced a draft Sea Cucumber Fisheries Management Plan and highlighted FAO’s continued role in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing through the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA). Stephen Simpson of the U.S. Embassy urged NaFAA to utilize training opportunities aimed at tackling IUU fishing and emphasized the importance of Liberia’s sustained commitment in this area. The Swedish Embassy, represented by Jenkins Flahwor, pledged support to specific fisheries development initiatives in collaboration with NaFAA.
This revitalized coordination effort marks a significant milestone for Liberia’s fisheries sector, laying the foundation for improved governance, resource management, and strategic investment through harmonized development partner engagement.