USADF Projects engage local fishing communities

WASHINGTON - August 25, 2011  

WASHINGTON, D.C. – August 25, 2011 –The United States African Development Foundation (USADF) committed $450,000 to alleviate economic hardship in fishing communities in the South Eastern Region of Liberia.  Three Artisan Fishery Projects will improve fishing practices and incomes with skill trainings and modern materials. USADF works with the most marginalized communities to create real economic impact for rural Liberians.

Fishing is the main source of livelihood for many along Liberia’s coastline. These USADF grants will assist 16 villages with better storage, marketing and fishing equipment.  Bapopo, Harper and Greenville community hubs will host the Artisan Fishery Projects. 

Inadequate fishing gear, no access to working capital, and fish processing techniques that require large quantities of wood and expose women to unhealthy working conditions hinder the economies of these post-conflict coastal communities. Many of the projects’ participants are isolated by poor roads and infrastructure—one community is only accessible by canoe. 

Materials, such as new boats built by local experts delivered with trainings on new deep sea fishing techniques have the power to transform subsistence vocations to more profitable ones. More than half of USADF’s three Artisan Fishery Projects participants are women involved in fish processing with unsafe exposure to smoke and carcinogens.  A portion of the project will train women to use improved fish smokers and drying slabs, to increase production and lessen health risks.

 “The United States African Development Foundations values working with marginalized, local groups to generate income using traditional means, such as improving skills and infrastructure of artisanal fishing in Liberia,” said USADF President and CEO Lloyd O. Pierson.

USADF entered Liberia in 2006 to rehabilitate and expand Liberian businesses and community organizations, particularly agricultural cooperatives and local fishing industries.

To learn more about USADF’s program with marginalized communities and populations in Liberia visit our Liberia Country Page at http://www.usadf.gov/liberia.html. Follow us on Twitter at @USADF

The United States African Development Foundation (USADF) is an independent United States Government agency dedicated to ensuring economic opportunities for marginalized populations in 21 sub-Saharan African countries. Over the past 30 years, USADF has funded more than $200 million in African designed and led development projects.  For more information on USADF and its programs, visit www.usadf.gov

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