The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia, through Enhancing the Resilience of Vulnerable Coastal Communities in Sinoe County (ERVCCS) Project, is sending three Liberian technical experts to India for a one-week intensive training program aimed at strengthening the country’s climate monitoring and weather forecasting capacity.
The three experts are expected to depart Liberia on Sunday, July 12, 2026, to participate in the specialized training, which will focus on the installation, operation, maintenance, calibration, and management of modern hydrometeorological equipment.
The participants are James Kollie of the Liberia Meteorological Service (LMS) at the Ministry of Transport, Kawi G. Badio of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), and William J. Wah Jr. of the Liberia Hydrological Service (LHS) at the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
The training is part of the EPA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen Liberia’s Climate Information Services (CIS) and improve the country’s ability to monitor weather conditions, provide accurate forecasts, and support disaster preparedness and climate adaptation.
The initiative follows a needs assessment conducted under the ERVCCS Project, which identified major gaps in Liberia’s hydrometeorological observation network.
The assessment revealed inadequate technical capacity, limited weather monitoring infrastructure, and insufficient coverage of synoptic weather stations and automatic rainfall stations, particularly in coastal counties. These challenges have affected the country’s ability to generate and provide timely and reliable weather and climate information.
To address these challenges, the ERVCCS Project is supporting the procurement and installation of new synoptic weather stations and automatic rainfall stations in Sinoe and Rivercess Counties. Alongside the installation of the new equipment, the project is investing in developing the technical skills needed to ensure the systems are properly operated and maintained.
During the one-week training in India, the participants will receive practical instruction on station installation, routine operation and maintenance, calibration, quality assurance and quality control, data collection, and data management. They will also strengthen their knowledge of applying hydro meteorological information to improve weather forecasting and multi-hazard early warning systems in line with the standards of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
The training will also strengthen collaboration among the Liberia Meteorological Service, the Liberia Hydrological Service, and the National Disaster Management Agency. By building the technical capacity of these institutions, Liberia will be better positioned to generate, analyze, interpret, and share reliable weather, climate, and hydrological information that supports national planning and decision-making.
Upon their return, the participants are expected to support the installation and operation of the new weather monitoring stations and transfer the knowledge gained to colleagues within their respective institutions, helping to build a stronger national climate monitoring system.
Speaking during the send-off ceremony on Thursday, at the EPA headquarters in Monrovia, EPA Deputy Executive Director for Administration, Mr. Anthony S. Kollie, said the Agency remains committed to investing in the country’s technical capacity because reliable climate information is essential to national development and the safety of communities.
Mr. Kollie noted that strengthening Liberia’s Climate Information Services and Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems will enable the country to better prepare for floods, storms, droughts, and other climate-related hazards.
He said timely and accurate weather and climate information plays a critical role in protecting lives and livelihoods, supporting agriculture, infrastructure development, water resources management, and climate adaptation efforts.
He added that the EPA will continue working with government institutions and development partners to strengthen climate resilience by improving access to reliable climate information, enhancing disaster preparedness, and supporting sustainable development in vulnerable coastal communities.
Mr. Kollie also challenged the three participants to take full advantage of the opportunity in India by remaining focused throughout the training and gaining as much practical knowledge as possible.
“You are not only representing your respective institutions but also Liberia,” he told the participants. “The knowledge and skills you acquire will be important to strengthening our national climate monitoring system. We expect you to return prepared to support the installation and operation of the new equipment and to share your expertise with your colleagues so that the entire country can benefit from this investment.”
Also speaking during the ceremony, Engineer WynittaGwaikolo-Mayson, Director of the Liberia Hydrological Service at the Ministry of Mines and Energy, expressed appreciation to the EPA and its partners for providing the opportunity for one of her staff to participate in the specialized training.
She described the initiative as a timely investment in Liberia’s technical capacity and encouraged the participants to remain committed throughout the training. She urged them to learn as much as possible, emphasizing that the knowledge they will gain will contribute significantly to strengthening the country’s weather and hydrological monitoring systems.
Engineer Gwaikolo-Mayson said the skills acquired in India should not remain with the participants alone but should be shared with colleagues upon their return, helping to build stronger institutions capable of providing reliable climate and hydrological information for national development.
Representing the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Mr. Gaijouhn Gaybueh congratulated the three delegates on their selection and described the training as an important investment in strengthening Liberia’s meteorological and climate information systems.
He said the training will enhance the participants’ skills in weather observation, data collection, and the operation and maintenance of synoptic weather and automatic rainfall stations. According to him, these skills will contribute significantly to improving weather information and decision-making across key sectors, including agriculture, water resources, aviation, infrastructure, and disaster risk management.
Mr. Gaybueh noted that as climate change continues to increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, building strong national institutions and developing skilled technical professionals have become more important than ever.
He said partnerships between the Government of Liberia, the EPA, UNDP, and other stakeholders are helping to build the human and institutional capacity needed to deliver reliable weather and climate information that protects lives, supports livelihoods, and promotes sustainable development.
Encouraging the participants to make the most of the opportunity, Mr. Gaybueh urged them to actively engage throughout the training, exchange experiences with fellow participants, and acquire practical knowledge that can be applied upon their return to Liberia.
He further encouraged them to become champions within their respective institutions by sharing the knowledge and skills gained with their colleagues, thereby strengthening the overall capacity of Liberia’s meteorological and hydrological services.
Mr. Gaybueh reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to supporting the Government of Liberia in advancing climate resilience, strengthening early warning systems, and enhancing the country’s ability to respond to climate-related challenges. He wished the delegation safe travels and a successful training program and expressed confidence that they would return better equipped to support Liberia’s growing climate information services.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, William J. Wah Jr. of the Liberia Hydrological Service (LHS) at the Ministry of Mines and Energy thanked the Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia and its partners for the support. He promised that he along with his colleagues will do everything possible to ensure that they bring back flying colors at the end of the training.