UNIDO and the Government of Israel have launched a new initiative to strengthen food safety systems and institutional capacity in Liberia. The announcement followed a meeting in Vienna between UNIDO Director General Gerd Müller and Ambassador David Roet of Israel, during which both sides exchanged letters formalizing the project, “Strengthening the Institutional Capacity of the Food Authority of Liberia,” financed by Israel.
The two-year initiative will support Liberia’s newly established Food Authority in becoming an effective regulator capable of enforcing food safety standards and improving market access for agricultural and food products. It aims to safeguard public health, reinforce consumer confidence, and enhance Liberia’s trade competitiveness, contributing to the country’s broader economic transformation agenda.
Director General Müller emphasized that ending hunger requires more than food production, highlighting the importance of processing, storage, quality standards, and resilient industries. Ambassador Roet noted Israel’s pride in sponsoring the project, linking it to Israel’s long tradition of partnerships across Africa dating back to Golda Meir’s leadership, and underscoring the importance of practical cooperation and knowledge sharing.
Hon. Precellia Cherue, Director General of the Food Authority of Liberia, welcomed the support, stressing that the institution is at a critical stage of development. She highlighted that Israel’s assistance will provide targeted training and skills development, enabling Liberia to build effective food safety systems and ensure products meet required standards.
The initiative will be implemented through cooperation between UNIDO and MASHAV, Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation. Building on a partnership since 2013, UNIDO and MASHAV have jointly organized agribusiness, entrepreneurship, and study visits through the Carmel International Training Center. The Liberia project marks a milestone in translating this collaboration into concrete country-level impact.
Looking ahead, the partnership opens opportunities for further cooperation in areas such as irrigation technologies, desalination, water efficiency, post-harvest solutions, digital innovation, and agri-technology centres of excellence, reinforcing the shared commitment to sustainable development in Africa and beyond.
