Building better farmer representation structures
Establishing the Liberia Federation of Forest and Farm Producer Organisations (LFFFPOs).
Agreeing the formation of the new umbrella organisation, the Liberia Federation of Forest and Farm Producer Organizations (Photo: Marvees Weah/FAO)
The Liberia Federation of Forest and Farm Producer Organizations (LFFFPOs) has emerged as a pivotal force in advocating for more inclusive governance and policy frameworks that benefit forest and farm producers across Liberia, representing members of the National Union of Community Forestry Development Committees (NUCFDC) and 12 other forest and farm producer organisations (FFPOs).
Forest and Farm Facility activities
The Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) provided support through NUCFDC to enter into dialogues with 12 other FFPOs to establish a new umbrella organisation that would strengthen advocacy and lobbying for more enabling policies for FFPOs.
FFF support between late 2022 to early 2024 enabled FFPOs to engage, receive training sessions on negotiation skills and policy analysis, and agree new organisational structures and policies. This equipped FFPO leaders with the tools needed to influence decision-making processes. Without FFF support, this significant shift would not have taken place.
Through careful facilitation, the farmer organisations successfully influenced the establishment of critical legal documents, including the framework document that enabled the creation of LFFFPOs, the strategic advocacy document and the constitution of the federation. These changes recognised the rights of local communities and FFPOs in decision-making processes, ensuring their voices were heard in national dialogues. As a result, the federation is now able to represent more than 2,000 farmers from all over Liberia.
NUCFDC played a crucial role by preparing a comprehensive policy brief that highlighted the importance of inclusive governance within LFFFPOs. NUCFDC organised forums and workshops for FFPO representatives to gather input from diverse stakeholders, ensuring that the voices of women, youth and local community members were integral to their advocacy message.
This grassroots approach culminated in a national advocacy campaign in early 2023, which led to a high-level meeting that included representatives from key government ministries and agencies.
Key advocates included representatives from NUCFDC and the 12 other FFPOs, with significant participation from women and youth leaders, who articulated their unique perspectives and needs. Internal policies of LFFFPOs explicitly included provisions for gender equality and the rights of local communities, ensuring that these groups benefited from the new legal frameworks.
Significance of impact
These internal policy formulations empower FFPOs across the country, granting them a formal platform to influence governance and secure their interests. LFFFPOs aims to facilitate access to resources, improve land tenure security and enhance the capacity of FFPOs to engage in sustainable practices, ultimately benefiting their livelihoods and promoting environmental stewardship.
Conclusion
The funding and capacity-building initiatives provided by FFF were crucial to empowering FFPOs to advocate effectively for their rights and interests, ultimately leading to a more enabling environment for forest and farm producers in Liberia.