“Today I am happy because our government and partners have realized that one of the ways to solve the land problems in this country is for the people to get legal title to whatever portion of land they have as a community,” said Honorable Francis Sakila Nyumalin during the awarding ceremony of customary land deeds held in Ganta, Nimba County, on September 26.
This historic event marked the official recognition of land ownership for 23 communities that have completed the Confirmatory Survey and Customary Land Formalization (CLF) process. In attendance were local authorities, civil society organizations (CSOs), donor partners, and community beneficiaries.
The CLF process was led by the Government of Liberia through the Liberia Land Authority (LLA), targeting communities in three counties- Grand Cape Mount, Bomi, and Nimba.
Under the framework of the Land Rights Act (LRA) of 2018, the LLA in partnership with UNDP Liberia has been collaboratively involved in CLF process, including confirmatory surveys and boundary harmonization. This process formally recognizes communities’ rights to their ancestral lands.
Speaking at the event, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Mr. Louis Kuukpen emphasized that the initiative aligns with Liberia’s Land Rights Act, the National Development Plan, and the vision of the LLA. He stated that the exercise “advances the Sustainable Development Goals—particularly those focused on gender equality, reduced inequalities, sustainable ecosystems, and robust institutions.”
Kuukpen added that securing land rights enhances dignity, opportunity, and resilience for families and communities that have long been marginalized.
Addressing the 23 communities receiving their land deeds, Kuukpen said, “This is your defining moment. Your land is more than soil and boundaries—it is a living testament to collective will, cultural heritage, and the promise of opportunity for your children and your grandchildren. May your deeds stand as beacons of unity, opportunity, and pride for future generations.”
Also speaking at the event, Mr. Jenkins Flahwor, Programme Officer at the Embassy of Sweden, representing the Ambassador, highlighted that customary land rights are foundational to peace, resilience, and sustainable growth.
He commended the Government of Liberia and its partners for their leadership, support, and collaboration.
“Let this day mark not only the handing over of deeds but the handing over of trust, responsibility, and hope,” Flahwor emphasized, adding that Sweden remains a committed partner in the journey toward equitable land governance and sustainable development.
The awarding of these land deeds is the result of extensive collaboration and planning between the LLA and its partners.
With support from UNDP, the LLA successfully surveyed a total of 268,502.70 acres.
This intervention is part of the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF)-funded project, “Enhancing Peace and Social Cohesion Through the Promotion of Equitable Access to and Use of Land for Rural Women in Conflict-Prone Communities and Concessions.”
The project is jointly implemented by UNDP, UN Women, and WFP, in collaboration with key national institutions including the LLA, National Bureau of Concessions (NBC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA).
The UN Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) is the United Nations’ primary financing instrument for peacebuilding, supporting integrated, inclusive, and nationally led initiatives aimed at sustaining peace and preventing conflict.
