February 17, 2026 – The Irish Embassy in Monrovia, Liberia, has conducted a one-day project monitoring visit to Baila Community, Kpaai District, Bong County. The visit was intended to gather firsthand information and feedback from the project’s beneficiaries.
The three-month pilot project, titled RISE-LIBERIA, supports Climate-Smart Agriculture practices, Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA), and leadership training.
Providing an overview of the project, the Deputy Director for Programs at DEN-L praised the Irish Embassy for supporting the initiative. According to Madam Beatrice K. Sondah, community stakeholders provided 1.5 acres of land for an agricultural demonstration site, as well as space for constructing a seed bank for farmers in the area.
Madam Sondah noted that farming materials were also distributed to farmers’ groups in Baila and Domah-pa communities in Bong and Nimba Counties, respectively. She listed the materials as cutlasses, hoes, watering cans, cutlass files, spraying cans, seeds, and seedlings, among others, to support farmers’ work in both communities.
During a meeting with vegetable farmers, stakeholders of the Baila project community expressed appreciation to the Irish Embassy for its support. Mr. Jackson Quennah, the landlord of the community, promised to continue supporting residents by providing land for project activities. He also appealed to donor partner Irish Aid to extend the project duration from three months to about two to three years.
Meanwhile, women farmers who spoke during the meeting praised Irish Aid and the Embassy for supporting their dreams and enabling them to learn new skills in VSLA, leadership, and Climate-Smart Agriculture, which they said will contribute to improving their farming methods. Many of the women engaged in vegetable production noted that these practices would increase yields and help them earn more income.
They added that the VSLA and leadership training will also strengthen their unity and development as a group.
Two VSLA groups in Baila Community each received LRD 20,000 as start-up grants. Both groups have begun contributing weekly shares of LRD 100 per member.
According to the women, their savings, when shared out, will help pay their children’s school fees and support housing construction. Many widowed women, who have faced neglect, said farming has been their main means of supporting their families.
In remarks at the occasion, the Senior Project Lead at the Irish Embassy thanked the women farmers and stakeholders for embracing and supporting the initiative. Mr. Kolubah Godo reaffirmed continued project support through DEN-L and OWE as implementing partners.
The RISE-LIBERIA project is a three-month pilot implemented by DEN-L and OWE with funding from Irish Aid through the Irish Embassy.
