People, Rules, and Organizations Supporting the Protection of Ecosystem Resources (PROSPER) Fifth Quarterly Report (Final)

The program's overall goal is to promote sustainable forest-based and agriculture-based enterprises in target areas. The three primary objectives of the program are to expand educational and institutional capacity, improve community-based forest management, and enhance community-based livelihoods. The program's first full year of implementation concluded in September 2013, despite challenges posed by the rainy season and the absence of component leaders for annual vacations. During the July to September period, the program executed a wide variety of planned field activities across all three components, including 52 workshops and stakeholder meetings involving over 2,500 participants. Component 1, the education and outreach team, wrapped up the first annual outreach campaign with a local rollout in Grand Bassa in July. A three-day workshop co-organized by PROSPER and PCI Media Impact allowed stakeholders to define the key elements of a 52-episode radio drama serial for Liberia. The team also prepared the faculty of the Forestry Training Institute to deliver its new community forestry curriculum, developed in FY13 with PROSPER's assistance. Component 3, the livelihoods and enterprise development team, pursued implementation of long-running farmer field school and ag-processing support activities throughout the quarter. The team also carried out an internal review and gathered technical information and identified partners needed to support a shift in emphasis to tree crop-based enterprise development in Year 2. Under Component 2, the community forestry team provided support to the three mature CF sites of northern Nimba and the seven new sites identified under PROSPER. In the mature sites, PROSPER focused its efforts in Quarter 4 on renewing the forest management agreements and providing technical assistance to community forest management committees. The team also supported the establishment of new community forest management sites and provided training to community forest management committees on sustainable forest management practices. The program's progress was marked by several successes, including the completion of the first annual outreach campaign and the preparation of the Forestry Training Institute faculty to deliver its new community forestry curriculum. The program also made significant progress in implementing long-running farmer field school and ag-processing support activities and in supporting the establishment of new community forest management sites. The PROSPER program's achievements during the July to September period demonstrate its commitment to promoting sustainable forest-based and agriculture-based enterprises in target areas of Liberia. The program's continued progress and success will depend on its ability to address the challenges posed by the rainy season and to maintain momentum in implementing its planned field activities.