National Conference "Enhancing Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture for sustainable Livelihoods in Liberia" held at Monrovia City Hall, 14/15 February 2013

In the Liberian rebuilding process, farming is often quoted as one of the pathways leading the country into sustainable peace and prosperity. On the other hand Liberia is still heavily depending on foodstuff imports and the particular vulnerability of the urban population in Monrovia and other towns was highly visible during the food crisis in 2008. Recently urban dwellers receive increasing support by government agencies and international NGOs to engage in agriculture within the cities’ boundaries, either to sustain themselves or to supply local markets, contributing to more resilient livelihoods overall.

A multi-stakeholder initiative led by Welthungerhilfe, FED, the Ministry of Agriculture and others called for a national conference on urban and peri-urban agriculture on 14/15 February 2013 at Monrovia City Hall in order to share best practice examples as well as lessons learned and to facilitate an exchange of perspectives between grass-roots urban farmers and policy makers.

The event was attended by more than 200 participants. More than 30 contributors representing the national government and Liberian academia, international organizations and NGO-workers as well as the urban farmers themselves shared their perspectives on key aspects concerning urban farming in Liberia such as access to land, marketing opportunities and food safety in lively discussions. In addition to that research fellows from Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria and The Netherlands showcased the varieties of urban harvests elsewhere in the world. Other topics included strategies for improved nutrition, gender issues, management of urban waste as well as the establishment of farmer’s organizations and their role in rebuilding the country’s agriculture.

Speaking on behalf of urban growers the Vice President of the Farmer’s Union Network (FUN) Rev. Robert S. M. Bimba called on government agencies to review land-related and agricultural policies and ordinances in favor of sustainable urban and peri-urban agriculture. He stressed the need of including agriculture into national curricula, starting from primary level and stated the willingness of farmer’s organizations to cooperate with donors, NGOs and national bodies in the establishment of a national extension service.

In her closing statement the Hon. Mary T. Broh, Acting Mayor of Monrovia City stressed the important contribution of food producing Liberian cities and towns towards countrywide poverty reduction, calling urban agriculture a “national necessity”. She underlined her statement by opening the newly established Farmer’s Market next to Monrovia City Hall where urban farmers are now selling their products every Friday.

The event was well covered by national media via various newspaper articles, radio reports and national television.

For papers and abstracts submitted to the conference click here.
For presentations held at the conference click here (sign up required) or click on each of the links below separately to have free access.

presentation_wg1_Bangura_access to land for UPA freetown
presentation_wg1_Gbadegesin_access to land for UPA in ibadan
presentation_wg1_Gbadegesin_the ibadan story
presentation_wg1_Kaba_protecting community land
presentation_wg1_Lincoln_presentation on urbanization, access to land and urban planning
presentation_wg1_Sele_waste management and food security
presentation_wg2_Doblah_vsla financial institution linkages
presentation_wg2_Dudley_food and enterprise development programme
presentation_wg2_Pratt_farmer’s market update
presentation_wg2_Quaye_market information system
presentation_Keynote_wg3_wg4_Stelder_urban food security and nutrition
presentation_wg3_Berger_growing greener cities in Africa
presentation_wg3_Sanchez_prevention of malnutrition in greater Monrovia
presentation_wg3_Tamba_food and nutrition security situation
presentation_wg4_Gbegbe_food safety study
presentation_wg4_Kawa_waste management and food safety
presentation_wg4_Koroma_urban food security and nutrition
presentation_wg4_Neufville_waste management and food safety
presentation_wg4_wg6_Kranjac-Berisavljevic_incorporation of urban waste
presentation_Keynote_wg5_wg6_van Veenhuizen_resilient cities
presentation_wg5_Bimba_the role of farmers organizations in food security related programmes
presentation_wg5_Kemokai_farmers organizations, youth and gender
presentation_wg5_Mafoi_youth employment and gender in UPA
presentation_wg5_Mitchell_development characteristics of cooperatives
presentation_wg5_Quaye_agriculture for children empowerment
presentation_wg5_Quaye_farmers organization, youth and gender
presentation_wg6_Bangura_extension and capacity building on UPA in sierra leone
presentation_wg6_Cegbe_extension and capacity building and curriculum development
presentation_wg6_Ndaloma_extension services and curriculum development in UPA
presentation_wg6_van Veenhuizen_extension and curriculum development




ENHANCING URBAN AND PERI-URBAN AGRICULTURE
FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS IN LIBERIA
CONFERENCE
14-15 February
University of Liberia/City Hall
Monrovia

Agriculture is seen as the backbone of Liberia, but it is estimated that Liberia only meets a third of her total food consumption requirements from local production. Cities are quickly becoming the principle territories for intervention and planning of innovative strategies that aim to eradicate urban hunger and improve livelihoods. Many urban households seek to increase their food production, as a way to provide their families with fresh and nutritious food, and some of them also sell this on the market.

Urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) provides such a strategy, contributing to enhanced food security and improved nutrition of the urban poor. Recently the value of this food production in and around urban areas and its relation to other functions of resilient cities receive attention. Well-planned and regulated UPA can contribute to local economic development, poverty alleviation and social inclusion of the urban poor, women in particular, as well as to the greening of the city, productive reuse of urban wastes, and adaptation to climate change.



Recently, the Government of Liberia and NGOs, supported by major donor agencies started to promote urban agriculture. Supported by EU, Welthungerhilfe (WHH), CARE Liberia and the RUAF Foundation supported the development of a policy narrative on UPA, whilst Multi-Stakeholder Forums on UPA are on-going in Greater Monrovia area, Tubmanburg and Gbarnga. A number of crucial issues in the promotion of urban agriculture have been identified and agreed in a City Strategic Agenda on UPA in these cities. USAID/FED, WHH, CARE, ACDI VOCA and others are working with the Ministry of Agriculture to support urban farmers, and farmers’ organisations. The University of Liberia is seeking to incorporate UPA in its regular curriculum.

The organisations of WHH, CARE, FED, MOA, MCC, and FLUPFA took the initiative to take stock of these experiences and discuss the future.
The conference will take place on February 14th and 15th 2013 at Monrovia City Hall /University of Liberia.

Presentations will be made along selected topics by actors and stakeholders involved in enhancing UPA in Liberia and invited specialists. Presentations will be made in plenary and working group sessions. In addition a Market Place will be organised where farmers will be given a chance to sell their goods as well as allow organizations and students to show their work and results related to UPA through posters, videos, etc. In a parallel programme visiting international specialists will give a series of guest-lectures (capita selecta) for students at the University of Liberia.

Tentative programme (key note speakers requested)

Thursday, February 14, 2013
8:00 amto 9:00 am	Registration and Reception
9:00 am to 9:30 am	Introduction of the Conference and opening ceremonies
9:30 am to 10:30 am	Keynote Address: 1. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
	Keynote Address: 2. WHH - Andre Stelder
10:30 am to 13:00pm	Working group sessions and presentations:
	1. Urbanization, Access to Land and Urban planning of UPA
	2. Urban value chain development/Marketing/Business Development/Access to Finance
13:00pm to 14:00pm	LUNCH
14:00pm to 14:30pm	Keynote Address: 3. FED - Chief of Party ( Jonathan Greenham)
14:30pm to 17:30pm	Working group sessions and presentations:
	3. Urban food security and Nutrition
	4. Waste Management and Food safety related to UPA
17:30	Wrap up and closure
Friday, February 15, 2013
8:00 am to 9:00am	Registration and Reception
9:00 am to 10:00 am	Keynote Address: 4. UL - Dean of Agriculture (Dr. Roland Massaquoi)
	Keynote Address: 5. International UPA Expert RUAF (Rene van Veenhuizen)
10:00am to 12noon	Working group sessions and presentations:
	5. Farmer's Organization, Youth Employment and Gender
	6. Extension and Capacity Building, Curriculum Development on UPA
12:00noon to13:00pm	LUNCH
13:00pm to 14:00pm	Short reports from the working groups
14:00pm to 14:30pm	Keynote Address: 6. Mayor of Monrovia - Hon Mary Broh
14:30pm to 17:00pm	Field activities - farmers , UL students exhibiting achievements
16;30 pm to 17:00pm	Vote of thanks - Minister of Agriculture ( Hon. Florence A Chenoweth PhD
	Official closure

THEMES
The following issues will be discussed in separate working groups:
1) Urbanisation, Access to land, and Urban Planning of UPA
2) Urban Value Chain Development/Marketing/Business Development/ Access to Finance
3) Urban Food Security and Nutrition
4) Waste Management and Food Safety related to UPA
5) Farmer organisation, Youth Employment and Gender
6) Extension and capacity building, Curriculum Development on UPA


LOCATION
Monrovia City Hall and University of Liberia Campus


CONTACT
Susanne Mulbah (conference organizer) +213(0)7701678787
Darrer Padmore (secretariat) +231(0)888360729


Brochures will be send around shortly to stakeholders and academia


REGISTRATION

Please register by sending an email to the email below, stating your name, organisation, position, phone, email address, with in the subject line of your mail: "Registration Conference" or by providing the same data in an envelope to Conference Secratariat
at: Welthungerhilfe (WHH) Office, 18th Street Sinkor
Email: andre.stelder@welthungerhilfe.de