Monrovia — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia has responded to recent media reports criticizing delays in the rollout of a $10 million climate information project, saying significant progress has been made under its current leadership.
The agency issued a statement Monday addressing a FrontPage Africa article published on April 9, 2025, titled “Liberia: $10 Million Weather Warning System Delayed Four Years by EPA ‘Lack of Competence.’” While commending the newspaper’s analysis of the African Development Bank (AfDB) report cited in the article, the EPA said the report covered a period before Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo assumed office as Executive Director.
Upon taking over, Dr. Urey Yarkpawolo prioritized the revival of the Enhancing Climate Information Systems for Resilient Development in Liberia (CIS Project), a $10 million initiative jointly funded by the Green Climate Fund, AfDB, and the Government of Liberia. The project aims to improve Liberia’s capacity to manage and respond to climate-related hazards such as floods and droughts.
At the time of his appointment, the EPA said the CIS Project had stalled due to critical shortcomings, including the lack of government co-financing for a Project Implementation Unit (PIU), the absence of memoranda of understanding with implementing partners, and delays in completing a baseline study and inception report—conditions required for the release of project funds.
In its clarification, the EPA revealed that despite the absence of initial government support, its senior management team allocated US$75,000 from the agency’s own budget to restart the project. Since then, the agency says it has achieved several milestones.
Among them, the EPA hosted an inception workshop from July 23–25, 2024, at the AfDB’s country office in Monrovia and submitted the corresponding report to the Bank. Project-specific bank accounts have been opened at the Central Bank of Liberia and the Liberia Bank for Development and Investment (LBDI) in multiple currencies, including U.S. dollars, Liberian dollars, and euros.
The EPA has also fully staffed the Project Implementation Unit, receiving seconded technical experts from various government agencies specializing in meteorology, hydrology, aviation, and disaster risk management.
According to the EPA, other major developments include the approval of a five-year work plan by AfDB; the signing of MOUs with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP); and the recruitment of a consultant who completed a baseline assessment, with feedback already received from the AfDB.
In addition, the Government of Liberia has now allocated US$400,000 to the project in the national budget, with disbursement paperwork submitted to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. A needs assessment was also conducted for the National Meteorological Center at Roberts International Airport to support planned rehabilitation under the CIS Project.
Importantly, the EPA clarified that as of now, no project funds have been disbursed by AfDB to the EPA or its Project Implementation Unit. However, the agency says all required preconditions have been satisfied, and the AfDB is currently processing the fund transfer.
“The revitalization of the CIS Project under the leadership of Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo is evidence of the EPA’s commitment to ensuring the full implementation of the project,” the statement read. “The establishment of the PIU, the signing of MOUs, and the opening of project bank accounts have positioned the project to enter its full implementation phase.”
The EPA assured the Liberian public that, through its Policy Council, Governing Board, Executive Director, Senior Management Team, and PIU, the CIS Project remains on track and will be executed in line with the original proposal and agreements signed with its financiers.
The CIS Project is regarded as a critical national effort to strengthen Liberia’s resilience to the increasing threats posed by climate change. Once fully implemented, it is expected to enhance early warning systems and improve decision-making in disaster risk reduction, agriculture, infrastructure planning, and water resource management.
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