Project Impact & Community Engagement
Project Impact & Community Engagement
Key Facts
Key Facts
Liberia's agricultural economy has historically been driven by several key commodities that hold vast potential for both domestic consumption and international export. Some of the most important crops include:
Liberia's agricultural economy has historically been driven by several key commodities that hold vast potential for both domestic consumption and international export. Some of the most important crops include:
5 years implementation period for the SAPZ project.
5 years implementation period for the SAPZ project.
130,000 farming households to gain improved market access and predictable incomes.
130,000 farming households to gain improved market access and predictable incomes.
156,000 new sustainable jobs created across the Agri hub, ATCs, and farm communities.
156,000 new sustainable jobs created across the Agri hub, ATCs, and farm communities.
4,000 youth and women trained in agro-industrial and entrepreneurial skills.
4,000 youth and women trained in agro-industrial and entrepreneurial skills.
50 private sector investors expected to set up operations in the Agri hub.
50 private sector investors expected to set up operations in the Agri hub.
Project Background
Project Background
The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) project is poised to transform Liberia's agricultural landscape, particularly in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, where the hub of the project is located. Spanning 200 hectares within a larger 631-hectare Special Economic Zone (SEZ), this initiative is aimed at catalyzing sustainable development through job creation, skills development, and empowerment of communities. With key outputs and an inclusive institutional framework, the project is set to impact local communities in profound ways, while also driving the country's economic growth. Buchanan, Liberia’s third-largest city, is a strategic location for the SAPZ due to its seaport, which facilitates the export of commodities like iron ore and timber. The SAPZ is set to leverage Buchanan’s strategic importance, existing infrastructure, and geographical advantages to foster agro-industrialization in Liberia. The project’s outputs include land development, infrastructure construction, and the creation of Agricultural Transformation Centers (ATCs) that enhance value-added processing.
The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) project is poised to transform Liberia's agricultural landscape, particularly in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, where the hub of the project is located. Spanning 200 hectares within a larger 631-hectare Special Economic Zone (SEZ), this initiative is aimed at catalyzing sustainable development through job creation, skills development, and empowerment of communities. With key outputs and an inclusive institutional framework, the project is set to impact local communities in profound ways, while also driving the country's economic growth. Buchanan, Liberia’s third-largest city, is a strategic location for the SAPZ due to its seaport, which facilitates the export of commodities like iron ore and timber. The SAPZ is set to leverage Buchanan’s strategic importance, existing infrastructure, and geographical advantages to foster agro-industrialization in Liberia. The project’s outputs include land development, infrastructure construction, and the creation of Agricultural Transformation Centers (ATCs) that enhance value-added processing.
Job Creation & Skills Development
Job Creation & Skills Development
One of the most critical outcomes of the SAPZ project will be its job creation potential. At full implementation, the project is expected to generate 156,000 new, sustainable jobs across the Agri hub, ATCs, and farm communities. These jobs will range from agricultural processing and logistics to managerial and technical roles, providing opportunities across multiple levels of skill sets.
One of the most critical outcomes of the SAPZ project will be its job creation potential. At full implementation, the project is expected to generate 156,000 new, sustainable jobs across the Agri hub, ATCs, and farm communities. These jobs will range from agricultural processing and logistics to managerial and technical roles, providing opportunities across multiple levels of skill sets.
50% of jobs for women and youth: Special emphasis will be placed on gender and youth inclusion, ensuring that vulnerable populations are part of the workforce.
50% of jobs for women and youth: Special emphasis will be placed on gender and youth inclusion, ensuring that vulnerable populations are part of the workforce.
Agro-industrial and entrepreneurial skills: The project will provide targeted training programs for 4,000 youth and women, focusing on skills required for food and non-food processing.
Agro-industrial and entrepreneurial skills: The project will provide targeted training programs for 4,000 youth and women, focusing on skills required for food and non-food processing.
TVET and Community College Engagement: A vocational technical education (TVET) institution and a community college will be equipped to mainstream industrial and entrepreneurship skills, ensuring that the local workforce is prepared for the growing agro-industrial economy.
TVET and Community College Engagement: A vocational technical education (TVET) institution and a community college will be equipped to mainstream industrial and entrepreneurship skills, ensuring that the local workforce is prepared for the growing agro-industrial economy.
By fostering skills development alongside job creation, the SAPZ will contribute significantly to the long-term economic empowerment of Liberia’s citizens, while also meeting the needs of its agro-industrial value chains.
By fostering skills development alongside job creation, the SAPZ will contribute significantly to the long-term economic empowerment of Liberia’s citizens, while also meeting the needs of its agro-industrial value chains.
Empowering Women & Youth in Agriculture
Empowering Women & Youth in Agriculture
The SAPZ will play a pivotal role in empowering women and youth in agriculture. Women, who make up a significant portion of Liberia’s agricultural workforce, will benefit from equal employment opportunities in the SAPZ’s agro-processing facilities and support industries.
The SAPZ will play a pivotal role in empowering women and youth in agriculture. Women, who make up a significant portion of Liberia’s agricultural workforce, will benefit from equal employment opportunities in the SAPZ’s agro-processing facilities and support industries.
Business and financial training for women-led cooperatives: These initiatives will focus on building financial literacy and market access for women in agriculture, enabling them to scale their businesses.
Business and financial training for women-led cooperatives: These initiatives will focus on building financial literacy and market access for women in agriculture, enabling them to scale their businesses.
Youth entrepreneurship programs: With Liberia’s youth unemployment rate high, the SAPZ will encourage youth participation through entrepreneurship training and financing options, especially in tech-enabled agricultural ventures.
Youth entrepreneurship programs: With Liberia’s youth unemployment rate high, the SAPZ will encourage youth participation through entrepreneurship training and financing options, especially in tech-enabled agricultural ventures.
The result will be an increase in productivity and a reduction in gender disparity, as women and youth gain access to better economic opportunities.
The result will be an increase in productivity and a reduction in gender disparity, as women and youth gain access to better economic opportunities.
Community Benefits & Social Infrastructure
Community Benefits & Social Infrastructure
The SAPZ project is more than just an agro-industrial hub—it is a catalyst for improving community infrastructure and providing lasting social benefits. By investing in the infrastructure surrounding the Agri hub and the ATCs, the SAPZ aims to uplift entire communities, enhancing the quality of life for local populations and addressing the root causes of rural poverty.
The SAPZ project is more than just an agro-industrial hub—it is a catalyst for improving community infrastructure and providing lasting social benefits. By investing in the infrastructure surrounding the Agri hub and the ATCs, the SAPZ aims to uplift entire communities, enhancing the quality of life for local populations and addressing the root causes of rural poverty.
Roads and transportation links: By constructing an external (approach) road, the project will improve accessibility, allowing for smoother transportation of goods and people between rural areas and the hub.
Roads and transportation links: By constructing an external (approach) road, the project will improve accessibility, allowing for smoother transportation of goods and people between rural areas and the hub.
Healthcare and education investments: The improved infrastructure will include better access to healthcare services and education facilities, which will not only benefit the workers of the SAPZ but also the broader community.
Healthcare and education investments: The improved infrastructure will include better access to healthcare services and education facilities, which will not only benefit the workers of the SAPZ but also the broader community.
Reduced rural-urban migration: With better economic opportunities available locally, particularly for youth, the SAPZ project will help to reduce the need for rural residents to migrate to urban areas in search of employment.
Reduced rural-urban migration: With better economic opportunities available locally, particularly for youth, the SAPZ project will help to reduce the need for rural residents to migrate to urban areas in search of employment.
These infrastructure investments will foster long-term growth in rural areas, ensuring that the benefits of the SAPZ extend beyond just the immediate economic impact.
These infrastructure investments will foster long-term growth in rural areas, ensuring that the benefits of the SAPZ extend beyond just the immediate economic impact.
Expected Project Outputs & Broader Impact
Expected Project Outputs & Broader Impact
At the heart of the SAPZ project is a comprehensive plan to deliver key outputs that will enable Liberia to become a regional leader in agro-industrial processing. Some of the major expected outputs include:
At the heart of the SAPZ project is a comprehensive plan to deliver key outputs that will enable Liberia to become a regional leader in agro-industrial processing. Some of the major expected outputs include:
Establishment of the Liberia Special Economic Zone Authority (LSEZA) to manage and regulate SEZ activities.
Establishment of the Liberia Special Economic Zone Authority (LSEZA) to manage and regulate SEZ activities.
Land preparation and infrastructure development, including site grading, perimeter fencing, and power supply.
Land preparation and infrastructure development, including site grading, perimeter fencing, and power supply.
Construction of Agricultural Transformation Centers (ATC) to facilitate value-added processing and organized market access for farmers.
Construction of Agricultural Transformation Centers (ATC) to facilitate value-added processing and organized market access for farmers.
Capacity building along value chains, including technical assistance and training for MSMEs, farmer groups, and youth-led startups.
Capacity building along value chains, including technical assistance and training for MSMEs, farmer groups, and youth-led startups.
Through these outputs, the SAPZ project aims to empower approximately 130,000 farming households, improving their access to markets, reducing post-harvest losses, and ensuring more predictable incomes from key commodities like rice, cassava, oil palm, coffee, cocoa, and rubber. From reducing rural poverty to creating new opportunities for women and youth, the SAPZ promises to be a game-changer for the agricultural sector. It is a forward-thinking project that aims to turn Liberia into a hub for agro-industrial processing while ensuring that economic growth is sustainable, inclusive, and environmentally responsible.
Contact Us
Liberia SEZ Authority VP Road,
Old Road Monrovia, Liberia
Email: info@liberiaseza.gov.lr
Line 1: +231(0)888229122
Line 2: +231(0)888662955
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Contact Us
Liberia SEZ Authority VP Road,
Old Road Monrovia, Liberia
Email: info@liberiaseza.gov.lr
Line 1: +231(0)888229122
Line 2: +231(0)888662955
Get Email Updates
Stay up to date with all the latest industry news
Contact Us
Liberia SEZ Authority VP Road,
Old Road Monrovia, Liberia
Email: info@liberiaseza.gov.lr
Line 1: +231(0)888229122
Line 2: +231(0)888662955
Get Email Updates
Stay up to date with all the latest industry news
