PHOTO: (L-Right) Cyrus NaFAA’s Boss and Mercy Corps Director of Programs Jacob signing the MoU
Freeport, Liberia — The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) and Mercy Corps have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at strengthening collaboration, expanding investment opportunities, enhancing market intelligence, and promoting inclusive growth across Liberia’s fisheries and aquaculture sector.
The agreement, signed at NaFAA Headquarters near Freeport, establishes a framework for joint efforts to identify viable investment opportunities, strengthen fisheries and aquaculture value chains, mobilize resources, create jobs, increase incomes, and contribute to Liberia’s broader economic development agenda.
Mercy Corps Commits to Deepening Engagement
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mercy Corps Director of Programs Jacob A. Sambolah expressed appreciation to NaFAA for its commitment and collaboration, describing the partnership as a strategic opportunity to deepen Mercy Corps’ contribution to Liberia’s development.
Sambolah highlighted the significant potential of fisheries and aquaculture to create employment, generate income, strengthen livelihoods, and support local economic development, with particular interest in aquaculture and its associated value chains.
“Mercy Corps has already undertaken some work in this space, but through this partnership, we are looking to deepen our engagement, strengthen value chains, and identify opportunities that can be scaled,” Sambolah said.
He added that Mercy Corps will explore opportunities to align its existing programs with NaFAA’s institutional mandate and work jointly with the Authority to scale successful interventions while identifying new opportunities for sustainable sector development.
NaFAA Emphasizes Strategic Partnership
For his part, NaFAA Director General J. Cyrus Saygbe, Sr. welcomed the partnership, noting that the Authority is deliberately building strategic relationships with development institutions whose expertise, networks, and resources can complement government efforts to transform Liberia’s fisheries and aquaculture sector.
The Director General noted that the partnership will further strengthen coordination through NaFAA’s Fisheries Development Partners Coordination Group, a quarterly platform that brings together development partners to coordinate support and investment in Liberia’s fisheries sector.
Market Intelligence at the Center of the Partnership
Saygbe identified market intelligence as one of the immediate areas where the partnership could deliver significant value.
He emphasized that reliable and periodic information on fish prices, demand, supply, market trends, investment opportunities, and other commercial factors is essential for producers, investors, policymakers, financial institutions, and other sector actors to make informed decisions.
(Left-Right) Cyrus NaFAA’s Boss and Mercy Corps Director of Programs Jacob displaying the MoU and, at the same time, shaking hands.
“If Mercy Corps can support us in developing reliable market intelligence and periodic market reporting, alongside other interventions under this MOU, it will add significant value to the sector,” Saygbe said.
Under the agreement, NaFAA and Mercy Corps will collaborate on a Market Intelligence Study covering Liberia’s fisheries and aquaculture sector, with particular attention to market opportunities, constraints, investment priorities, and pathways for inclusive growth.
Focus on Value Chains, Investment and Gender Inclusion
The collaboration will assess fisheries and aquaculture enterprise development, including viable business models, cooperative structures, market opportunities, and value-addition pathways for entrepreneurs and small-scale producers.
The parties will also examine opportunities to strengthen cold-chain systems to reduce post-harvest losses, improve product quality, extend shelf life, and increase the value of fisheries and aquaculture products.
Gender mainstreaming will be another important component of the partnership. The collaboration will seek to identify barriers limiting women’s participation and leadership in fisheries and aquaculture and develop approaches that promote more inclusive market systems and economic opportunities.
The initial geographic focus of the Market Intelligence Study will cover Sinoe, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Bassa/Montserrado, Bong, and Nimba Counties, subject to final validation by both parties.
The findings are expected to inform the development of concept notes, funding proposals, investment cases, donor pitch materials, and implementation roadmaps for priority opportunities identified through the study.
Complementary Roles for Mercy Corps and NaFAA
Under the MOU, Mercy Corps will provide technical expertise in market intelligence, market integration, gender mainstreaming, value-chain analysis, assessment design, business-case development, and opportunity identification.
Subject to internal approvals and available resources, Mercy Corps may also support studies, consultants, technical service providers, proposal development, documentation, evaluation, and dissemination of findings.
NaFAA, meanwhile, will provide sector leadership, technical guidance, institutional oversight, and validation. The Authority will facilitate access to relevant sector information, stakeholders, technical expertise, and institutions required to implement the study and related activities.
NaFAA will also facilitate engagement with its Fisheries Development Partners Coordination Group and other development partners where appropriate, particularly where joint initiatives could attract additional technical or financial support.
Saygbe further assured Mercy Corps of NaFAA’s readiness to jointly develop concept notes and funding proposals and provide the necessary institutional support for resource mobilization.
“Welcome on board to the fisheries and aquaculture sector. Let us work together to make this partnership meaningful and beneficial to Liberia,” he said.
Strengthening Liberia-Led Development
The Director General also welcomed the leadership being provided by Liberian professionals within the Mercy Corps team, describing the partnership as an opportunity for Liberians to work together to advance national development priorities.
He assured Mercy Corps that NaFAA will provide continued institutional support as the partnership progresses, with relevant technical teams available to provide guidance, facilitate coordination, and support implementation.
PHOTO: (Left-Right) Cyrus NaFAA’s Boss and Mercy Corps Director of Programs Jacob displaying the MoU and, at the same time, shaking hands.
Alignment with NaFAA’s Strategic Priorities
The partnership is closely aligned with several strategic initiatives being advanced by NaFAA.
Saygbe disclosed that the Authority’s 10-Year Fisheries and Aquaculture Strategic Plan (2026–2035) is expected to be finalized before the end of August 2026. Once finalized, the plan will be shared with Mercy Corps, alongside NaFAA’s National Fisheries Investment Plan and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Strategy, to guide future programming, investment discussions, and resource mobilization.
NaFAA is also updating its institutional business plan, which previously covered the period through 2025. The updated plan is expected to establish new institutional priorities, projections, and a framework for strengthening revenue forecasting and positioning the Authority to achieve its objectives over the next five years.
A Framework for Collaboration and Resource Mobilization
The MOU provides a framework to facilitate, guide, and promote strategic collaboration between NaFAA and Mercy Corps. It does not, however, constitute a direct transfer of funds between the two parties. Any future funding arrangement will be subject to a separate written agreement.
The signing represents another important step in NaFAA’s broader effort to build strategic partnerships around investment, sustainability, job creation, value-chain development, market access, resource mobilization, and improved governance of Liberia’s fisheries and aquaculture resources.
With the agreement now in place, NaFAA and Mercy Corps are expected to begin translating the partnership framework into practical market studies, investment opportunities, resource mobilization initiatives, and targeted interventions aimed at strengthening the sector and expanding sustainable economic opportunities for Liberians.
Signed___________________________________
Lewis E.B Konoe
Director
Communications Director
National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority, NaFAA
Freeport
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