Strengthening internal organisational governance
Building internal governance through bylaw and constitution development with local beekeeping associations.
Members of the Twah River Beekeepers Association, established with support from the Association of Beekeepers in Liberia and Forest and Farm Facility (Photo: Marvees Weah/FAO)
The Association of Beekeepers in Liberia (ABEL) promotes sustainable, modern beekeeping to improve rural livelihoods, boost income and protect biodiversity. Working with African honeybees, ABEL provides training, tools and market access for honey, supporting farmers and women-led enterprises. One of the areas in which ABEL has provided support has been for honey and beeswax production in the Twah River district of Liberia.
Beekeeping in Twah River district began in 2017 through support from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), with ABEL serving as an implementing arm under a project run by the Universal Outreach Foundation (UOF).
The project trained 22 local farmers in Garplay in Twah district, Nimba county in professional beekeeping. With this increased knowledge, interest in beekeeping grew, with community members across eight towns independently taking up beekeeping.
However, these new beekeepers lacked equipment, support and leadership. Despite ABEL continuously advocating for a way to organise these scattered individuals and strengthen their capacity, the problem persisted.
Forest and Farm Facility activities
In 2024, ABEL was invited to submit a proposal to the Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) to address this challenge. In partnership with the FFF programme, ABEL helped to facilitate the establishment of the Twah River Beekeepers Association (TRIBA) in Garplay. With FFF support, ABEL conducted an assessment across Twah River district and selected 21 participants for leadership training.
During the leadership training, Kuku Tarkwiah (also known as “Queen Bee”) was elected chairperson. This decision transformed the trajectory of the beekeeping community, introducing women to leadership roles and enabling an expansion of beekeeping in smaller communities.
TRIBA members received trainings in beekeeping and leadership, intentionally amplifying the awareness of and advocacy about women’s involvement in communities’ development and the development of a framework to regulate the use, management and maintenance of vital beekeeping tools.
One of the most significant milestones has been the formation of the TRIBA bylaws and constitution, a locally developed governance framework for beekeepers in the Twah River district who are members of TRIBA. These bylaws were not imposed by ABEL or the FFF team; they were the product of inclusive consultations, peer learning and a shared vision for responsible management of natural resources among TRIBA members and leaders.
Significance of impact
As a result of FFF support, TRIBA has consolidated, undergone a tenfold increase in membership and greatly expanded its production potential. The bylaws outline clear roles and responsibilities for members and office holders. They define decision-making processes, ensuring transparency and accountability within the association. They also provide clarity for engaging with local authorities and external partners. The combination of these three elements has strengthened TRIBA’s legitimacy and bargaining power.
In addition, within the TRIBA bylaws and constitution, a practical framework was established to regulate the use of precious resources such as protective gear, smokers and harvesting tools during harvest season, and routine post-harvest maintenance. This framework promotes institutional strengthening, sustainability and community impact through the improvement of beekeepers’ participation in guidelines around preserving the integrity of hives and empowering them to define their own rules.
Better internal governance has seen a more than tenfold increase in TRIBA’s membership, which has grown rapidly from 22 to 316 members following FFF’s support. There has also been an expansion in honey production, which reached six gallons in 2025.
Conclusion
The upgraded leadership and coordination have revived hope among previously unsupported beekeepers that they can become part of an organised community, creating sustainable livelihood opportunities. This demonstrates the powerful impact of FFF’s initial support to strengthen organisational governance and leadership.
Further reading
Honey production elevates women’s status in Liberia, Forest and Farm Facility (2025)
FAO supports Twah River Beekeepers Association in Nimba County through ABEL, FAO (2025)