Liberia is hosting the 8th Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Licensure Training for professional evaluators in Monrovia.
By Stephen G. Fellajuah
Monrovia, Liberia, March 5, 2025 – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is hosting the 8th Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Licensure Training for professional evaluators. The training runs from March 3 to March 14, 2025.
Over the last two decades, significant progress has been made in applying Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) as a crucial tool for planning, decision-making, and managing development projects in Liberia.
The Environmental Protection and Management Law, enacted by the Government of Liberia in 2003, provides the legal framework for implementing the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) process.
Key players in administering the ESIA process include the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), relevant line ministries, and independent evaluators. The Union of Certified Environmental Professionals of Liberia (UCEL) serves as a third-party oversight body, ensuring compliance and quality in the process.
The 8th Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Licensure Training is being held on the theme ‘Promoting Environmental Sustainability and Social Equity in Development Projects, Programs, and Policies.’
The training aims to bridge knowledge gaps and enhance participants’ expertise. As part of this effort, the EPA conducts licensure training for independent consultants, large project developers, and relevant line institutions.
The exercise brings together representatives from the African Development Bank (AfDB), the World Bank, relevant line ministries, and professional evaluators from across the country.
EPA Deputy Executive Director Mr. Dweh Boley delivered the opening remarks, emphasizing the importance of constructive engagement with the agency.
In his brief remarks, the President of the Union of Certified Environmental Professionals of Liberia (UCEL), Mr. Solomon Wright, says the UCEL is ready to operate at full capacity. Wright also emphasizes that without concerted efforts to protect the environment, it will face irreversible destruction.
Remarking on the importance of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo says the ESIA process is crucial for evaluating the impacts of development projects, such as the construction of houses, factories, roads, and other infrastructure.
The assessment, he says, aims to determine both positive and negative effects on the environment, including land, air, and water, as well as plants, animals, and people affected by these projects.
According to Dr. Yarkpawolo, the outcomes of these assessments lead to the development of an Environmental Management Plan, which focuses on mitigating negative impacts and enhancing positive ones.
“As Environmental Evaluators, you are extensions of the EPA. The ESIA process is scientific and complex, and without proper training, developers are unable to conduct these studies effectively”, remains participants. Editing by Jonathan Browne
