Liberia has secured approval from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for a groundbreaking project aimed at reducing mercury pollution in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), supported by the African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
The $7.67 million GEF-financed initiative, with $24.57 million in co-financing from the AfDB, marks Liberia’s entry into the global planetGOLD programme, which has already helped over 20 countries adopt mercury-free mining technologies while improving environmental health and local livelihoods.
The project will strengthen policies, promote clean mining technologies, expand financial inclusion, and foster partnerships between government, communities, and the private sector. It also builds on the AfDB’s ongoing institutional support to enhance transparency and governance in Liberia’s mining sector.
Over five years, the project aims to reduce 50 metric tons of mercury, restore 10,000 hectares of degraded land, avoid 148,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions, and improve livelihoods for 20,000 miners, including 12,000 women.
“This initiative is a major victory for Liberia’s people and environment,” said Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo, Executive Director of Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency. “By reducing mercury at its source, we protect miners, safeguard rivers and forests, and promote sustainable economic growth.”
The project also connects Liberia to planetGOLD+ regional networks, offering peer learning and access to proven global practices, positioning the country to lead in building a safer, more sustainable gold mining sector.
