Robert S.M. Bimba, Executive Director of the Community of Hope Agriculture Project (CHAP), has ended a three-day International Conference on African Land Degradation in Tunis, Tunisia, where he served as a panelist offering expertise on the role of civil society in combating land degradation. Mr. Bimba’s presence highlighted Liberia’s success in transforming wastelands into productive lands, positioning the country as a model of transformation.
Hosted by the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) and organized under the leadership of Executive Secretary, Mr. Nabil BEN KHATRA, the conference aims to propose concrete solutions to halt land degradation across Africa. Mr. Bimba, who also coordinates the RICOWAS Project for Anglophone countries, engaged with global leaders to advocate for Liberia and CHAP’s initiatives in sustainable land management.
Liberia’s membership in OSS facilitated through collaborative efforts with Minister of Agriculture, Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah and CHAP, promises sustainable development opportunities for the country. The conference was supported by OSS, the African Development Fund (ADF), African Union, GAMES, AFRICA, and the Adaptation Fund.
The Executive Secretary of OSS, Mr. KHATRA is planning a high-level mission to Liberia, to meet with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah, Minister of Agriculture and Development on plans OSS plan to start concrete work in Liberia in support of the Government of Liberia’s ARREST agenda, as they are doing now in 23 member countries and to launch the RICOWAS project (Scaling up Climate Resilient Rice Production) that is to be implemented in six counties on 2,000 ha of lowland through the National Executing Entity CHAP.
Among the distinguished attendees were H.E. Mrs. Anne Gueguen, French Ambassador; Dr. Mohamend Belhocine, African Union Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation; H.E. Mr. Elsayed Elkosayoer, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation of Egypt; H.E. Mrs. Nsang Ndong Gertrudis, Ambassador of Equatorial Guinea to Tunisia; and various other notable figures.
Mr. Bimba expressed gratitude to Mr. Nabil BEN KHATRA, Executive Secretary of OSS, and Mrs. Khaoula Jaoui, head of the RICOWAS PROJECT, for their support in securing development opportunities for Liberia. The conference serves as a platform for sharing success stories and fostering collaboration to achieve sustainable actions against land degradation in Africa.
