Africa-Press – Liberia. The European Union-funded “Strengthening Community Actions for Land and Economic Security” (SCALES) project was officially launched in Monrovia on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
The initiative marks a critical intervention aimed at improving land governance and fostering economic empowerment across Bong, Lofa, and Nimba Counties.
The three-year project is being implemented by a consortium led by the Development Education Network–Liberia (DEN-L), in partnership with the Rights and Rice Foundation (RRF) and JSGB & Associates Legal Services for Women & Children.
The launch, held at the European Union Compound in Mamba Point, highlighted a stark reality while Liberia’s 2018 Land Rights Act is hailed as a landmark law, its implementation remains hampered by a massive awareness deficit.
A baseline assessment released during the launch revealed that while 89.7% of respondents claim access to land through customary use, only three communities currently possess verified land deeds from the Liberia Land Authority (LLA).
Furthermore, the study exposed a troubling lack of legal literacy only 45% of respondents could correctly explain provisions of the Land Rights Act.
This disparity is even more acute among marginalized groups with only 33% women understand the law and 9% of youth between the ages of 18-24 understand the law while 28% of persons with disabilities understand the law.
The SCALES assessment detailed varying levels of land security across target regions.
Lofa County recorded the highest level of land access at 97.1%, followed by Nimba at 89.7%, and Bong at 82.6%.
However, Nimba County presents a unique challenge, showing the lowest level of rights awareness at just 19%.
Additionally, seven out of 19 assessed clans are currently embroiled in active land conflicts, with particularly volatile disputes reported in Lofa County’s Quardu Gboni District, some of which involve cross-border complexities.
Duku Jallah, President of the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY), described the project as a “tool for inclusive development.”
“As the voice of Liberia’s youth, FLY is committed to supporting this initiative,” Jallah said. “We recognize that when young people, women, and marginalized groups are informed and empowered, communities thrive. Land is the foundation of livelihoods, and secure access is essential for our generation to enjoy economic opportunities.”
Also speaking at the launching ceremony Hon. Joseph S. Cooper, Executive Director of the National Council of Chiefs, pledged the full cooperation of traditional authorities.
“Local chiefs, who are the landlords of our land, will work with the project at all levels,” Cooper stated.
He urged implementing partners to “partner closely with traditional chiefs” to mitigate and harmonize critical land crises within the targeted counties.
Esther S.D. Yango, Executive Director of WONGOSOL, emphasized that for women, land is a matter of “dignity and protection from violence.”
“Inclusion must go beyond participation,” Yango urged. “WONGOSOL remains committed to ensuring that no woman or girl is left behind in accessing land and economic opportunities.”
The SCALES Project aims to transform “conflict zones” into models of formalization.
According to the implementing partners the project key pillars include expanding community-based education on the Land Rights Act, ensuring women and youth hold leadership roles in land governance while also Settling clan-level conflicts without protracted and expensive litigation.
The project will be used in Linking land security directly to community-based livelihoods.
Organizers pointed to Bong County’s Panta District, which already holds three verified land deeds, as the blueprint for replication across the 19 targeted clans. With the backing of the European Union, the SCALES Project is expected to turn land from a source of historical tension into a foundation for sustainable growth for thousands of rural Liberians.
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