EPA Hosts GEF Evaluation Mission to Assess Impac, Coastal and Environmental Projects
June 29, 2026
Monrovia: The Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia on Monday hosted a high-level mission from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) as part of the Strategic Country Cluster Evaluation of GEF-supported coastal interventions in West Africa.
Held in the Executive Conference Room of the EPA in Monrovia, the meeting brought together Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency; Madam Silke Heuser, Evaluation Officer at the GEF Independent Evaluation Office; Madam Georgia Wallen, World Bank Country Representative to Liberia; and Atty. Salimatu Gilayeneh, Team Lead for Inclusive Green Growth at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Also in attendance were members of the EPA Senior Management Team and representatives of GEF-supported projects and partner institutions.
Liberia is one of the countries selected for the evaluation because of the relevance, diversity, and performance of its portfolio of GEF-funded environmental and coastal projects implemented through partnerships with the EPA, UNDP, the World Bank, Conservation International, and other institutions.
The Strategic Country Cluster Evaluation seeks to assess the performance, sustainability, and long-term impact of GEF investments in improving environmental protection, strengthening climate resilience, and supporting sustainable livelihoods in coastal communities.
The findings will help inform future GEF programming and investments across the West African region.Speaking on behalf of the EPA, Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo welcomed the evaluation team and reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to protecting its natural environment through strong partnerships and coordinated action.He highlighted the country’s major environmental priorities, including coastal erosion, biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation, sustainable fisheries management, responsible mining, and forest protection.
Dr. Yarkpawolo also outlined the progress Liberia has made in strengthening environmental governance, while acknowledging that limited financial resources, technical capacity, monitoring equipment, and laboratory infrastructure continue to pose challenges to effective environmental management.
The EPA Executive Director further emphasized the importance of strengthening environmental monitoring systems, expanding geospatial technologies, investing in scientific research, and advancing Natural Capital Accounting to support informed policy decisions and sustainable national development.
Dr. Yarkpawolo described the mission as an important opportunity for Liberia to showcase the results of its environmental partnerships while contributing valuable lessons that will help shape future GEF investments in coastal resilience, biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and sustainable development across West Africa.
Opening the discussions, Madam Silke Heuser explained that the mission aims to gather evidence on the achievements, lessons learned, and remaining challenges of GEF-supported interventions in Liberia.
She noted that the evaluation will examine how these investments have contributed to environmental sustainability while identifying opportunities to strengthen future programming across the region.
Madam Georgia Wallen, World Bank Country Representative to Liberia, emphasized the importance of continued collaboration among government institutions, development partners, and local communities.
She noted that GEF-supported projects have delivered meaningful results in coastal resource management, fisheries development, and community livelihoods, while stressing the need to sustain these gains through continued investment and institutional strengthening.
Representing UNDP, Atty. Salimatu Gilayeneh reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting Liberia’s environmental and climate priorities and welcomed the evaluation as an opportunity to assess achievements, capture lessons learned, and improve the effectiveness of future GEF-supported interventions.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of stronger coordination among government institutions and development partners to address Liberia’s environmental challenges and ensure that investments continue to deliver lasting benefits for communities and ecosystems.
The evaluation mission will continue with visits to several GEF-supported project sites, including New Kru Town, Robertsport, Grand Cape Mount County, the Mesurado Wetlands, and mangrove restoration sites.
During these visits, the team will engage local authorities, fishermen, women’s groups, community leaders, and project beneficiaries to assess the impact of GEF-funded interventions on the ground.
