The Sustainable Development Institute (SDI), through its Community Land Protection Program (CLPP), has launched a two-week intensive capacity-building training aimed at strengthening customary land and forest governance across Maryland, RiverCess, and RiverGee Counties. The initiative targets 103 leaders, including chairpersons, co-chairpersons, secretaries, treasurers, and community assembly members representing 13 Community Land Development and Management Committees (CLDMCs) and several Community Forest Management Bodies (CFMBs).
According to SDI, the training focuses on organizational development, roles and mandates of community governance structures, and a thorough understanding of key legal frameworks such as the Community Rights Law of 2009 and the 2018 Land Rights Act. Participants are also receiving lessons in leadership and team building, effective communication and cooperation, work plan development, proper meeting documentation, gender mainstreaming, and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. Awareness sessions on climate change and carbon management were also highlighted. Traditional chiefs, district commissioners, women and youth leaders have joined the sessions, broadening participation and ensuring that the knowledge gained is shared across all layers of community leadership.
As part of the training, SDI distributed user-friendly materials derived from the Land Rights Act, Community Rights Law, and Liberia’s Carbon Policy. These materials are intended to support peer education and community awareness led by CLDMCs and CFMBs. Participants are expected to leave the program equipped with new skills to ensure more effective management of their customary land and forest resources. They will also be required to produce a six-month work plan to guide their activities and community engagements.
The training follows SDI’s successful completion of boundary harmonization and confirmatory surveys in five of the 13 participating communities across the three counties. These activities form part of a broader project funded by the International Land Tenure Facility under the theme “KEEPING THE PROMISE: Expanding and Strengthening Community Land and Forest Governance for a Sustainable Future.” The project spans Grand Bassa, RiverCess, Sinoe, RiverGee, Bong, Lofa, and Nimba Counties, covering a land area of 683,934 hectares.
The first session of the training was held in Gutuken Community from November 18–19, 2025, bringing together 27 participants from Newenken, Gbito-fla-fla, and Sellie Koyio in Maryland County. A notable highlight of the event was the involvement of the newly appointed County Land Administrator of the Liberia Land Authority, who helped resolve a long-standing boundary dispute between Rock Town in Gbito-fla-fla and Tenken Town in Newenken.
Local and traditional leaders from both communities signed a commitment letter aimed at resolving the matter within one week. SDI says it hopes the strengthened capacity of local governance bodies will lead to improved land and forest management, reduced conflicts, and more transparent decision-making across communities.
Author: Zac T. Sherman
