-Says Amb. Delahousse; As EU Focuses On
By Washington Tumay Watson –onewash9@gmial.com
MONROVIA-The head of Delegation of the European Union to Liberia, Ambassador Laurent Delahousse has disclosed that EU’s programs in Liberia focused on agriculture mostly nutrition, electricity, and Forestry governance among others.
Amb. Delahousse was clear that the EU’s programs are not going to focus on roads in Liberia, stressing that the Liberian Government and other development partners are now working in that sector.
Speaking on State Radio Thursday, December 8, 2022, Amb. Delahousse said the European Union has a global strategy that is called the gateway.
According to him, the strategy focused on agriculture, forestry, and governance indicating that EU is going to fully support the such sectors in line with the Government Development agenda the Pro-Poor Agenda for Development for Prosperity.
“We look at the needs of the country, we look at the EU in its own international parity to satisfy those needs, for instance, I measure roads, for the EU we do not support roads, it is not part of the strategy, so we focused on other areas, “he noted.
The EU Ambassador further narrated that in line with their Global strategy the gateway is nutrition, stressing that one of the mean problems that Liberians are faced with is nutrition.
“Liberia imports, let say 60 to 70 percent agriculture, we know the situation about rice, in the past it has been a major political commodity in Liberia, and we have decided with the Ministry of Commerce and industry to work in the development inside the rice sector, from the rice value chain to the consumer”, he noted.
Speaking further the EU Head said the level of malnutrition is bad in Liberia emphasizing that due to the EU is focusing its support in that sector.
He disclosed that EU will also focus its developmental programs on biodiversity in Liberia.
According to him, the EU has a history of working with the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) through the United Kingdom, Norway to support the preservation in management and exploitation of the forest.
“The idea is not to stop cutting trees, Liberia needs to export timbers and bring resources to the country and they need to do it in a sustainable way, the level of de-forestation is very high in your country up to 2% so if things are not put under control in few years there will be no forest, “he noted. He disclosed that the EU is supporting Liberia’s electricity programs amount others.
Alphonso Toweh
Has been in the profession for over twenty years. He has worked for many international media outlets including: West Africa Magazine, Africa Week Magazine, African Observer and did occasional reporting for CNN, BBC World Service, Sunday Times, NPR, Radio Deutchewells, Radio Netherlands. He is the current correspondent for Reuters
He holds first MA with honors in International Relations and a candidate for second master in International Peace studies and Conflict Resolution from the University of Liberia.