Senegal, April 19, 2026 — Two staffers from Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have completed a regional capability-building training for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in climate change negotiations, underscoring Liberia’s commitment to stronger representation on the world stage. The participants were Mrs. Danise Love Dennis-Dodoo, Head of Media and Corporate Communications, and Mr. Jeremiah Mulbah, Communications Specialist, with Mrs. Dodoo leading the Liberian delegation throughout the program.
The training, held in La Somone, Senegal from April 13–15, 2026, brought together more than 60 negotiators from Anglophone and Francophone African countries to sharpen practical negotiating skills under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process.
Mrs. Dodoo led Liberia’s delegation, steering the team’s engagement across thematic areas, while Mr. Mulbah contributed his expertise in communications strategy and policy framing.
During the practical sessions on how negotiators take the floor, Mrs. Dodoo served as the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) Chair, guiding the group’s floor presence and strategy, and Mr. Mulbah followed suit by acting as the European Union (EU) Chair, representing one of the core blocs under UNFCCC negotiations.
The two Liberian staff focused their efforts on critical negotiation themes: Mrs. Dodoo concentrated on Transparency, while Mr. Mulbah tackled Loss and Damage, areas central to Liberia’s climate resilience and adaptation needs. This arrangement not only highlighted Liberia’s current priorities but also showcased the country’s readiness to engage substantively in international dialogue.
As the program unfolded, the Liberian team demonstrated not only technical insight but also a readiness to translate global negotiations into actionable outcomes for local communities.
The organizers—ENDA Énergie and the International Institute for Environment and Development—worked in collaboration with Legal Response International and in partnership with the LDC Group, bringing together an enriching mix of expertise and practical exercises. The training aimed to empower participants to articulate LDC’s climate priorities clearly, advocate for necessary support, and strengthen multi-stakeholder collaboration at future negotiations.
The significance of this participation goes beyond personal skill development.
Liberia, a nation with a small greenhouse gas footprint, continues to bear the brunt of climate impacts such as flooding, heavy rainfall, and coastal erosion. The knowledge gained from this training equips Liberia to push for stronger international backing for resilience, adaptation, and funding that can help communities back home.
In a substantial signal of Liberia’s growing readiness, both staff completed a post-training assessment and were awarded certificates of completion, recognizing their mastery of the program’s core competencies.
At the close of the training, Mrs. Dodoo expressed gratitude to the EPA for the support that made their participation possible and highlighted how the experience enhances Liberia’s voice on the world stage.
She emphasized that the capacity-building effort will enable Liberia to speak more forcefully and coherently in international climate conversations.
“We may not be a large emitter, but Liberia is among those feeling the severe effects of climate change,” she remarked.
“Trainings like this prepare Liberia’s next generation of negotiators to take a national role and secure the assistance our communities need.”
Liberia also extends heartfelt appreciation to the organizers for the impactful training and for enabling Liberian representatives to engage with confidence and clarity. The knowledge and connections gained through ENDA Énergie, IIED, Legal Response International, and the LDC Group will be shared across the EPA to strengthen the institution’s ongoing climate diplomacy and advocacy.
