Liberia validated its First National Report on the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit-Sharing (ABS), covering the period December 2017 to December 2025. The report outlines progress in establishing institutional structures, raising awareness, strengthening policy frameworks, and initiating steps toward developing a comprehensive national ABS law.

The Environmental Protection Agency serves as the competent national authority, with sectoral laws such as the Liberia Land Right Law of 2018, Wildlife and National Parks Act, and Environmental Protection and Management Law providing interim regulatory foundations. Efforts have focused on promoting Prior Informed Consent (PIC), improving coordination across institutions, and enhancing transparency through biodiversity monitoring and reporting systems.

Liberia’s validation of its First National ABS Report marks an important milestone. It signals the country’s commitment to responsible management of genetic resources, fair and equitable benefit sharing, and alignment with global biodiversity goals. Moving forward, sustained domestic resource mobilization, stronger institutional consolidation, and inclusive stakeholder collaboration will be essential to translate policy commitments into measurable outcomes that benefit both biodiversity and the Liberian people.

The report outlines progress in drafting national ABS legislation, strengthening policy coordination, integrating Prior and Informed Consent practices, and enhancing biodiversity data systems. While acknowledging that implementation remains partial, the report identifies efforts in awareness raising, inter-agency collaboration, compliance measures, technology transfer, and capacity building.

The validation exercise underscored the importance of inclusive governance. Line ministries and agencies including the Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry of Health, participated in reviewing institutional responsibilities. The Forestry Development Authority and the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority contributed technical insights on forest and marine genetic resources.

Academia and research institutions supported technical review of reporting sections related to scientific collaboration and monitoring. Civil society organizations and conservation NGOs facilitated community engagement and provided recommendations on strengthening benefit-sharing safeguards.

Local communities’ representatives emphasized the importance of protecting traditional knowledge and ensuring that ABS frameworks translate into tangible social and economic benefits.

The report highlights achievements including increased national awareness of ABS principles, capacity building for rangers and technical officers, adoption of biodiversity monitoring tools, improved reporting through national and international platforms, and strengthened intersectoral dialogue.

Despite advances, implementation remains partial and ongoing. Key challenges include finalizing dedicated ABS legislation, strengthening monitoring and compliance mechanisms, clarifying institutional mandates, increasing domestic financing, and improving community-level legal literacy. Liberia has benefited from non-monetary support such as capacity building, and scientific collaboration, but sustainable implementation will require stronger domestic resource mobilization and institutional consolidation.

The validated report reinforces Liberia’s Goal 3 under Liberia’s revised national targets 2025–2030, which focuses on fair and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources. It also contributes to Goal 4 by identifying financing needs, institutional gaps, and monitoring requirements. The validation confirms Liberia’s commitment to aligning national implementation with the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and advancing its obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity.

The report highlights that broad stakeholder engagement strengthens legitimacy and transparency. It also underscores the need for:

• Clear institutional mandates
• Sustainable domestic financing
• Coordinated monitoring systems
• Stronger community-level engagement
• Long-term technology institutionalization

ABS implementation in Liberia has advanced primarily through partnerships and donor support. Moving forward, greater domestic ownership and resource mobilization will be essential.

Recommendations and inputs from the validation workshop will be integrated into the final version of the report before its official submission to the ABS Clearing-House. This submission will formalize Liberia’s progress and provide an updated national baseline for implementing the Nagoya Protocol.

In the next phase, priority will be placed on finalizing the national ABS legal framework, strengthening compliance and monitoring mechanisms, clarifying institutional roles, and expanding public awareness at community level. The report will guide coordinated action across government institutions, academia, civil society, and local communities to ensure more effective and accountable implementation.

Learn more about Liberia and the progress of other country members on our Recent News page. Curious about the Facilitator Programme? Learn more about its critical role in accelerating NBSAPs here.