The Governments of Liberia and Sierra Leone, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), World Food Programme (WFP), amongst others, convened the second phase of the joint project steering committee meeting of the GOLA Resilience, Empowerment, Access, and Peace building (GOLA-REAP) Project.
The meeting aimed to review and assess project updates and provide strategic guidance for the next phase of implementation. Bridging the gap between both countries, the meeting brought together members of the steering committee from Sierra Leone and Liberia, which include, Ministry of internal Affairs as chair, the United Nations Resident Coordinators as co-chair, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, Ministry of Agriculture, forestry Authorities, the Immigration services, other government line ministries directly involved in the project, project districts, local authorities, international and regional partners and other meaningful invitees.
The project is a joint initiative between Liberia and Sierra Leone, funded by the United Nations peacebuilding Fund to foster cross-border collaboration, strengthen resilience, promote sustainable livelihoods, peacebuilding, and enhance cooperation among communities, law enforcement, and government agencies in both countries.
On April 3, 2025, both countries held the first steering committee meeting in Bo, Sierra Leone, bringing together delegates to discuss issues of importance to the Gola-REAP project. Speaking on behalf of the Government of Liberia on Friday, October 3, 2025 at a local hotel in Monrovia, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Liberia (MIA), Francis Nyumalin, emphasized that the GOLA-REAP project should focus on addressing pressing issues by enhancing community resilience and Border cohesiveness.
He affirmed that the Government of President Joseph Boakai is committed to protecting the forest, community resilience, sustaining peace, and enabling reconciliation in the MRU region, through peace, security, and social cohesion that foster sustainable livelihoods for Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Minister Nyumalin attributed Liberia’s underdevelopment to the mismanagement of natural resources, weak institutions, worsened by inadequate strategic leadership. “But we are glad to have President Joseph N. Boakai as president, to transform this country, revamp the local government, and strengthen all Institutions,” he noted. For his part, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Sierra Leone, Morie Lengor, called on Africans to work harder to breach colonial boundaries that keep Africa apart. Minister Lengor stated that the project has further strengthened the Liberia-Sierra Leone relationship as one people.
At the same time, Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs, Patrick Gibrilla, expressed the need for the active involvement of young people. He pointed out that youth are paramount to sustaining peace, and have always been seen as agents of change, who possess the energy, especially when empowered and given opportunities for meaningful participation in peacebuilding efforts, and the development of their Sub-region.
Meanwhile, the UN Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone, Madam Sarafina Wakana, emphasized the meeting’s significance in advancing peace and regional integration. She said the GOLA-REAP initiative is not just about biodiversity conservation, but also about promoting sustainable livelihoods and ensuring peaceful coexistence between border communities.
