Weilor Town Advances Customary Land Claim With High-Level Coordination Meeting

GRAND CAPE MOUNT COUNTY, Liberia — Community Sustainable Development Platform, working alongside Women & Youth Development International, has convened a high-level coordination meeting with traditional leaders, local authorities and neighboring communities of Weilor Town, marking a major step forward in the Customary Land Formalization process in Grand Cape Mount County. The meeting, held Sunday as part of Phase I of the CLF process, centered on community self-identification — a legally mandated requirement for communities seeking formal recognition of customary land ownership under Liberia’s 2018 Land Rights Act. Building Consensus, Preventing Conflict The gathering brought together elders, women and youth leaders, persons with disabilities, representatives of surrounding communities and land governance actors. Organizers said the inclusive approach was aimed at strengthening coordination, promoting transparency and reducing the risk of land-related disputes as the process moves forward. Introducing the initiative, CSDP Team Lead Alfred B. Kiawu formally unveiled the project, titled Supporting Communities for Inclusive Land Governance. He said the effort is being jointly implemented by CSDP, WYDI and the people of Weilor Town. Kiawu disclosed that the project is currently being carried out without direct donor funding, relying instead on community commitment and collaboration among local organizations, while engagements with development partners and donors continue to secure support for the full completion of the CLF process. Legal Framework Explained Frank M. Sheriff, the county land administrator of the Liberia Land Authority, provided a detailed presentation on the CLF process and its legal foundation. He explained key provisions of the Land Rights Act, including Liberia’s four categories of land ownership and the rights of customary land-owning communities. Sheriff also highlighted safeguards for women, youth and vulnerable groups, conflict-prevention mechanisms built into the law, and the complementary roles played by traditional leaders and local authorities in securing and managing customary land rights. Government Backs the Process Grand Cape Mount County Superintendent Folley Kiatamba commended CSDP and WYDI for supporting Weilor Town, describing the CLF process as the only lawful pathway for communities to secure customary land ownership. He urged residents of Weilor Town and neighboring villages to actively engage in the process through awareness and capacity-building activities, stressing that broad participation is essential to its success. Kiatamba pledged his full support for the initiative and assured participants that the Liberia Land Authority, through the county land administrator, would provide continuous technical guidance throughout the process. The coordination meeting reaffirmed strong stakeholder commitment to inclusive land governance, peaceful coexistence and secure land tenure, placing Weilor Town on a clear and lawful path toward formal recognition of its customary land rights. convened high-level