The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has officially launched a major capacity-building workshop on the Cluster Development Approach (CDA) in Ganta City, Nimba County.
As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and promote sustainable employment opportunities across Liberia.
The week-long workshop is being held under the GROW-2 Project, titled “Promoting MSMEs Development and Employment Opportunities through a Market System and Cluster Development Approach in Agro-industry Value Chains.”
The initiative aims to improve cooperation among enterprises, service providers, financial institutions and public-sector actors operating within the same geographic areas and value chains.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr. Charles Sackey, Chief Technical Advisor of the UNIDO GROW-2 Project, described the Cluster Development Approach as a transformative strategy that promotes collaboration, innovation and shared growth among cooperatives and MSMEs.
According to Dr. Sackey, the approach strengthens linkages among businesses and institutions, enabling enterprises to benefit from shared services, collective efficiency and improved market competitiveness.
He noted that the initiative is expected to enhance the resilience and long-term sustainability of cooperatives and small businesses across Liberia.
Dr. Sackey explained that the workshop aligns with the broader objectives of the GROW-2 Project, which seeks to build stronger enterprise ecosystems capable of creating jobs and stimulating local economic growth in agro-industrial communities.
He emphasized that the training is designed to equip technical officers, policymakers and development actors with practical knowledge and modern tools needed to effectively apply the Cluster Development Approach in cooperative development, strengthening and sustainability programs.
The UNIDO official further disclosed that participants will receive intensive training in cluster mapping, diagnostic analysis, stakeholder coordination and institutional planning.
The workshop will also support participants in developing practical action plans for implementing CDA initiatives within their respective institutions and counties.
Facilitating the training is Mr. Vedat Kunt, a Turkish national and internationally recognized Cluster Development Expert, who is bringing extensive global experience and regional best practices to the program.
His expertise is expected to provide participants with valuable international perspectives on successful cluster development models supported by UNIDO around the world.
Institutions participating in the workshop include the Cooperative Development Agency (CDA), Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA), value chain actors, MSMEs representatives and local economic and industrial policymakers committed to promoting inclusive economic development in Liberia.
The high-level workshop has brought together representatives from 12 cooperative societies across Nimba, Bong and Lofa Counties at Jackie’s Hotel in Ganta City.
Organizers believe the training will serve as a major step toward building stronger cooperatives, expanding enterprise opportunities and accelerating sustainable economic transformation in Liberia’s agro-industrial sector.