Project Summary

Monrovia, Liberia’s capital, is highly vulnerable to coastal erosion and shoreline retreat due to rising sea levels and increasingly frequent, high-intensity storms driven by climate change. The most at-risk area is West Point, a densely populated informal settlement located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mesurado Wetlands.

Over the past decade, 30 meters of shoreline have been lost in West Point, resulting in the destruction of 670 homes, the severing of a major road, and the loss of public spaces and boat launching sites vital to the community’s fishery-based livelihoods.

To address these urgent threats, the Government of Liberia, with funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and support from UNDP, launched the Monrovia Metropolitan Climate Resilience Project (MMCRP) in 2021. The project aims to enhance the resilience of vulnerable coastal communities within the Monrovia Metropolitan Area (MMA), with a focus on West Point.

Project Goals and Interventions

• Coastal Protection Infrastructure
  Construction of a rock revetment to shield West Point from sea erosion and storm surges, protecting lives, homes, and critical infrastructure.
• Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)
  Institutional support and capacity building to implement ICZM across Liberia, ensuring long-term, sustainable coastal planning and management.
• Ecosystem Restoration
  Protection and restoration of mangroves in the Mesurado Wetlands to strengthen natural defenses and support biodiversity.
• Climate- and Gender-Sensitive Livelihoods
  Support for alternative, resilient livelihoods—particularly for women and youth—to reduce vulnerability and enhance adaptive capacity in coastal communities.

The MMCRP is part of a broader, strategic coastal adaptation framework that integrates infrastructure, ecosystem-based solutions, and community empowerment to build a climate-resilient Monrovia.