The Sustainable Development Institute (SDI) through its Community Land Protection Program (CLPP) is conducting a two-week long capacity building training for 103 chairpersons, co-chairpersons, secretaries, treasurers, community assemblies, representing 13 Community Land Development and Management Committees (CLDMCs), and Community Forest Management Bodies in organization development, their mandates and roles in community bylaws, the Community Rights Law of 2009 and the 2018 Land Rights Act.
Other topics covered at the training include leadership, and team building, effective communications and cooperation, work plan development, meeting documentation, Gender Mainstream, Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanism, and awareness on Climate Change and Carbon. Additional representatives, including traditional chiefs, district commissioners, women, and youth leaders, are attending and participating in the training.
The training sessions were used to distribute copies of several user-friendly materials developed from the Land Rights Act, Community Rights Law, and Carbon Policy for awareness raising and peer education by the CLDMC and CFMBs.
In addition to the distribution, participants are expected to acquire new skills in the management of their customary land and forest. They are also likely to develop a six-month work plan to guide their activities, implementation, and engagements.
This training follows a successful completion of boundary harmonization and subsequent conduct of a confirmatory survey in five of the 13 communities in Maryland, RiverCees, and Rivergee counties.
The International Land Tenure Facility-funded project is being implemented by the SDI and other partners under the title: KEEPING THE PROMISE. Expanding and Strengthening Community Land and Forest Governance for a Sustainable Future" in Grand Bassa, River Cess, Sinoe, River Gee, Bong, Lofa, and Nimba Counties,s with a covered land space of 683,934 hectares.
The training started in Gutuken Community with 27 participants from three communities, including Newenken, Gbito-fla-fla, and Sellie Koyio of Maryland County, on November 18, and ended 19, 2025.
The Liberia Land Authority's newly appointed County Land Administrator participated in the training and played a significant role in the resolution of a very prolonged boundary dispute between the Rock town of Gbito-fla-fla and the Tenken town of Newenken Community.
Local and traditional leaders of both communities signed a commitment letter that aims to end the dispute in a week.