Alliance for Rural Democracy

ARD + Green Advocates Hold Awareness Meetings on GCF and Independent Redress Mechanism in Monrovia.

The Alliance for Rural Democracy (ARD), in partnership with Green Advocates, has concluded a series of stakeholder engagement and awareness meetings with project-affected communities along the Mesurado Wetland and Mangrove areas in Monrovia.

Focus of the Meetings:
The sessions were held as part of ongoing work around the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Project* to strengthen community understanding and participation.

Key Activities:

Stakeholder Engagement: Meetings to document community participation in the GCF process and ensure concerns are properly recorded
Awareness on GCF: Community sensitization on the goals of the Green Climate Fund and how climate finance projects are expected to operate in Liberia.

Information on the IRM: Education on the GCF Independent Redress Mechanism (IRM). We explained what the IRM is, who can access it, and the process for filing a complaint if communities believe they may be adversely affected by a GCF-funded project

Rights and Safeguards: Discussion on rights to information, participation, and access to remedy under GCF policies

Our Commitment:
ARD and Green Advocates believe climate action must be inclusive and transparent. These meetings are part of ensuring communities have the information they need to participate meaningfully and to know where to go if they have concerns.

We thank community leaders, local authorities, and all participants who engaged with us in Monrovia. Your participation is key to accountable climate action.

We will continue to support information sharing and dialogue as the project moves forward.

Continuation of the Customary Land Rights Formalization (CLRF) process in two dispossessed communities around the Concession of the Liberia Agriculture Company (LAC) in Grand Bassa County.

Between May 25th and June 5th, 2026, the local communities of New Ceezohn and Trodain in #3 and #4 districts, respectively, participated in two-day meetings each to facilitate the development of their community bylaws based on their norms and cultural practices.

While the Land Rights Law already legitimizes communities' ownership of their customary land, through this work, our desire is to help the communities benefit the full bundle of the rights bestowed on them in the law. By obtaining a title deed to their land, communities will be empowered to safeguard their rights and gain full control of their ancestral land and the resources thereupon.

On May 27th and June 2nd, 2026, the ARD held engagements with the traditional chiefs and Elder Council of District #3 and #4, Grand Bassa County. Among those attending were the Deputy Chief Zoe of Grand Bassa County and the Unification Town Chief of District #4. The goal of the engagements was to solicit the support of the traditional leaders for the Community-Based Movement, Ablojay-Anesahn, and to build collaboration for the advocacy of communities affected by the operation of the concession of the Liberian Agriculture Company (LAC).

The engagement is also linked to a larger strategy outlined under our CALLS project to empower local communities to participate in the discussions on the signing or renegotiation of large-scale concessions and other development projects.

Many of the local leaders and chiefs attending voiced their commitment to the campaign and agreed to work with a collective voice for the safety and development of their communities.
The chiefs expressed willingness to work with the larger communities to build a collective case for the renegotiation of the Liberia Agriculture Company (LAC) as it draws closer to an end in 2029.

Stakeholder engagement with affected communities around the Salala Rubber Corporation/Jetty Rubber Limited Liability Company

On Saturday, May 9, 2026, the Alliance for Rural Democracy (ARD) and its partners, the Natural Resource women Platform (NRWP) and Green Advocates hosted a visit of the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. J. Alexander Nuetah, to the affected communities of SRC, Margibi. The visit stem from our engagement with the Ministry on the complaint of the affected communities about land dispossession and crop destruction caused by the Salala Rubber Corporation, now Jetty Rubber LLC and participation in the renegotiation of the plantation as the concession contract comes to an end.

The objective of the ministers visit, however, was centered around the announcement of an agriculture development opportunity for affected communities. He announced that the ministry in partnership with Jetty Rubber LLC wants to facilitate an out grower program with affected communities - whereby the government will organize the communities into corporative and Jetty Rubber LLC will provide investment for the program with terms and conditions.

The communities were concerned why the Minister is not speaking about their complaints and issues and instead speaking of an out grower program. Communities also informed the minister that they do not have enough land space for the out grower program citing the company expansion which have dispossessed them off their ancestral land.

We see the ministers visit as a great milestone in our efforts to improve the relationship between the communities and national stakeholders where their voices are included in issues regarding decision making about their land and natural resources.

Liberia’s Plantation Communities Slam Socfin Reports as “False Progress,” Say Abuses by SRC, LAC Continue Unchecked

Liberia’s Plantation Communities Slam Socfin Reports as “False Progress,” Say Abuses by SRC, LAC Continue Unchecked By : Archie Boan Communities affected by the operations of the Salala Rubber Corporation (SRC) and the Liberia Agriculture Company (LAC) have forcefully reje

MONROVIA, Liberia — Communities impacted by the operations of Salala Rubber Corporation and Liberia Agriculture Company have flatly rejected Socfin Group’s 2024–2025 progress reports on the Socfin–Earthworm Action Plan, calling them misleading accounts that fail to reflect persistent environmental and human rights abuses on the ground.

Read more:

Communities Reject Socfin Progress Claims, Cite Ongoing Abuses Communities impacted by the operations of Salala Rubber Corporation and Liberia Agriculture Company have flatly rejected Socfin Group’s 2024–2025 progress reports on the Socfin–Earthworm Action Plan, calling them misleading accounts that fail to reflect persistent environmental and human right...

MONROVIA, Liberia — Communities impacted by the operations of Salala Rubber Corporation and Liberia Agriculture Company have flatly rejected Socfin Group’s 2024–2025 progress reports on the Socfin–Earthworm Action Plan, calling them misleading accounts that fail to reflect persistent environmental and human rights abuses on the ground.

https://liberianinvestigator.com/news/communities-reject-socfin-progress-claims-cite-ongoing-abuses/

The roots of exploitation don’t stop at the plantation gates..they stretch across oceans.
Socfin’s rubber and palm oil feed into global brands like Michelin, Bridgestone, Continental, and Nestlé.

Everyday products, from tires to snacks, may quietly carry the cost of land loss, abuse, and violated rights.

It’s time for global accountability and ethical supply chains that value people as much as profit.

The SRC strike was born out of suffering.
Workers demanded human living conditions, fair wages, and proper medical care.. basic rights that were denied for years.
The chaos that followed was a symptom, not the cause.
Socfin’s exit left behind unresolved pain and a community still searching for justice.