Ministry of Youth and Sports Partners with FDA to Establish Shared Wood Processing Facility at MVTC

Ministry of Youth and Sports Partners with FDA to Establish Shared Wood Processing Facility at MVTC

Monrovia, Liberia — The Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS), through the Monrovia Vocational Training Center (MVTC), is partnering with the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) to establish a shared wood processing facility at the MVTC aimed at expanding vocational skills, employment opportunities, and value addition in Liberia’s secondary wood processing industry.

The partnership is being formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding between the MYS/MVTC and the FDA under the Transition Support Facility (TSF) Pillar III Project Phase II, titled “Scaling Up the Participation of Small and Medium Forest Enterprises in the Secondary Wood Processing Industry in Liberia.” The project is funded by the African Development Bank Group.

Under the agreement, the Ministry of Youth and Sports will provide suitable land within the premises of the MVTC for construction of the shared facility, while the FDA, through the TSF Pillar III Project Phase II, will finance and oversee construction through a qualified construction company selected in accordance with applicable procurement requirements.

The facility will serve as a practical center for wood processing, carpentry, furniture making, and vocational training. It is expected to include workshop and production areas, spaces for the installation and operation of wood processing machinery and equipment, training and demonstration areas, storage facilities, and other related facilities approved under the project.

The shared facility will primarily benefit students enrolled at the Monrovia Vocational Training Center and members of the eleven Carpenters and Furniture Makers Associations operating in Montserrado County.

Students and association members will have opportunities for practical training and skills development in modern wood processing, furniture production, machine operation, workplace safety, product finishing, entrepreneurship, and business management. The facility will also support production, innovation, and value addition within Liberia’s secondary wood processing industry.

Under the partnership, the FDA will finance the construction within the approved project budget, engage the selected construction company, supervise the works, ensure compliance with quality and safety standards, and facilitate the installation, testing, and handover of machinery and equipment provided under the project. The FDA will also facilitate training in the operation, care, and maintenance of the equipment.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports, through the MVTC, will provide and protect the designated land, facilitate access to the construction site, support required clearances and approvals, provide reasonable security for the facility and project assets, and ensure structured access for MVTC students. The Ministry will also assign qualified instructors, technicians, or focal persons to coordinate vocational training activities at the facility.

The eleven Carpenters and Furniture Makers Associations will also play a role in the operation of the facility. Their responsibilities will include coordinating members’ participation, ensuring compliance with safety and facility use rules, designating qualified operators, participating in technical and business development training, and supporting the protection and maintenance of the facility and its equipment.

To ensure effective management and sustainability, the MYS and FDA will establish a Facility Management Committee comprising representatives of the two institutions, the MVTC, and the leadership of the eleven Carpenters and Furniture Makers Associations. The committee will oversee access, training and production schedules, maintenance, security, accountability, and other operational matters.

The parties will also develop an operation and maintenance plan addressing routine maintenance, equipment servicing, utilities, security, sanitation, occupational safety, inventory management, and sustainable financing for the facility’s operations.

The partnership is expected to contribute to Liberia’s efforts to strengthen technical and vocational education, create employment and livelihood opportunities, improve the skills of young people and artisans, and increase participation in the country’s secondary wood processing industry.

The land on which the facility will be constructed will remain the property of the Government of Liberia under the administration of the Ministry of Youth and Sports through the Monrovia Vocational Training Center. Project funded machinery, tools, equipment, and other assets will be managed in accordance with Liberian law, the financing agreement between the Government of Liberia and the African Development Bank, and applicable project asset management and handover arrangements.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports views the partnership as an important step toward strengthening practical skills training and creating an enabling environment where young people and artisans can acquire modern technical skills, produce quality products, and participate more meaningfully in Liberia’s wood processing and furniture industry.