KIGALI, Rwanda – Liberia is making a strong push for international climate financing and resilience support at the ongoing National Adaptation Plan Expo 2026 in Kigali, Rwanda, where government environmental and planning experts are engaging global partners and climate funders on projects aimed at protecting vulnerable communities from the growing impacts of climate change.
The Liberian delegation comprises environmental specialists from the Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia and a senior sustainability planning official from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning of Liberia.
The team is being led by Arthur Richard Melvin Becker, Director of the Department of Multilateral Environmental Agreements at the EPA, alongside Teddy Penneku Taylor, Assistant Director for External Relations at the same department, and G. Henry Kolubah, Senior Planning Analyst on Sustainability at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.
The four-day international conference, running from May 18 to May 21, 2026, is bringing together governments, development institutions, climate experts, and international financing organizations to accelerate implementation of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) worldwide.
Liberia Seeking Support for Resilience Projects
At the Expo, the Liberian delegation is actively promoting several key national resilience priorities aimed at strengthening the country’s preparedness against climate-related threats.
These include projects focused on:
- freshwater ecosystem protection;
- climate-smart livelihoods for women and youth;
- resilient coastal communities;
- and sustainable urban resilience initiatives.
Officials say the engagements are intended to attract climate financing and technical partnerships capable of helping Liberia move from climate adaptation planning to large-scale implementation.
According to Becker, Liberia’s participation reflects the country’s continued commitment to sustainable development and climate resilience in line with Liberia’s National Adaptation Plan (2020–2030).
“Liberia’s participation highlights the country’s continued commitment to sustainable development, climate resilience, and protecting vulnerable communities from the impacts of climate change,” Becker noted.
He added that Liberia’s climate priorities are also aligned with the government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, which places strong emphasis on environmental sustainability and resilience building.
Global Focus on Climate Adaptation Financing
The National Adaptation Plan Expo is organized annually by the Least Developed Countries Expert Group under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
This year’s conference is focused on helping countries transition from climate adaptation planning to implementation-ready projects, financing strategies, and operational systems capable of strengthening resilience by 2030 and beyond.
The Expo also features technical workshops and collaborative sessions where participating countries work in specialized groups to convert climate adaptation priorities into concrete, finance-ready investment portfolios.
One of the major highlights of the event is the “Adaptation Investment Matchmaking Symposium,” jointly hosted by the NAP Global Network and the United Nations Development Programme.
The symposium is designed to directly connect countries seeking climate adaptation financing with international development partners and funding institutions.
Liberia Faces Growing Climate Threats
Liberia remains highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, including coastal erosion, flooding, unpredictable rainfall patterns, rising sea levels, deforestation, and threats to food security.
Communities along Liberia’s coastline, particularly in Monrovia and other low-lying areas, continue facing increasing risks from coastal erosion and flooding linked to changing climate conditions.
Environmental experts warn that without major investments in climate adaptation and resilience infrastructure, vulnerable populations — especially women, youth, and rural communities — could face worsening economic and environmental pressures in the coming years.
Liberia has in recent years intensified efforts to access global climate financing mechanisms and strengthen partnerships focused on environmental sustainability, disaster preparedness, and green development.
Observers say participation at the NAP Expo 2026 provides Liberia an important opportunity to position itself for international climate support at a time when competition for global adaptation financing is increasing among developing nations.
The Kigali conference is expected to conclude with renewed global commitments aimed at accelerating climate adaptation implementation and strengthening resilience among vulnerable countries worldwide.
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