1.1 Project Summary:
Liberia is a Sub- Saharan nation in West Africa, with a land area covering 96,300 km2 (9.59 million ha,) the forest cover is 45% and is classified as closed dense forest (2.42 million ha), open dense forest (1.02 million ha) and agriculture degraded land (0.95 million ha) and a coastline of 360 mi. The proposed project is aimed at strengthening the resilience of vulnerable populations in rural Montserrado. The communities are faced with impact of changing seasons, droughts, storminess and high temperatures affecting the lives and livelihoods of the poor. It is has been studied that in Africa, women are likely to suffer most from climate change impacts than men (Douglas et al., 2008).
Hence, as we have gathered from our community entry and wide range discussions held with some stakeholders, women and youth in Rossville, rural Montserrado County confirmed that, as it is in other rural regions of Liberia, mainly women and youths are extremely incapacitated, vulnerable, lack productivity skills and cannot therefore in anyway contribute to the wellbeing and sustenance of their families and are unable to adequately participate in development initiatives in their communities. As a result, many women are looked down upon/not respected by their male counterparts. Secondly, very few families practicing backyard gardening that cannot supply enough produce (vegetables) on the local markets for consumers. Vegetables like pepper, eggplants, okra etc. are been imported for sale at a higher price, something unavoidable to some poor families. Also cassava cultivated and processed into farina and sold to marketers from Monrovia or transported there and sold is another means of quick income generation in those communities but, again, they are unable.
Therefore, this project seeks to take positive actions in building the capacities and supporting alternative livelihood programs especially for women and youths in Rossville and Peyan communities to enable the vulnerable women and youths to have food and incomes. The project will provide basic skill training in vegetable and cassava cultivation (modern techniques) and supported with the required/necessary basics tools, equipment and materials. Also we will supply solar lights to community schools where there are evening school sessions to help reduce the emssion of GHG as most night schools in the community depend on generators to generate electricity which contribute to Liberia?s emission level. Sometimes, these generator barely function for days leaving students to stay out school for days thereby interfering with their learning.
The project key objectives will include 1) to provide skills to communities to be able to sustainably guage livelihood action; 2) to support a sustainable livelihood project (snail farming, cassava production and fish preservation) for the communities which will go a long way in alleviating poor and raising the incomes of vulnerable women and youths; and 3) to raise the level of Climate Change awareness and support schools in the communities.

The project key expected outcomes will include: (a) increased women and youths participartion in the alternative livelihood program in the communities (b) high level of vegetable production and income sources, (c) increase in the level of awareness and education amongst local communities (d) reduction in the level of slash ? and burn agriculture practices and improved clean energy.

1.2 Organization background and capacity to implement the project.
The organization has seven (7) years? work experience with the rural communities, mainly assisting local farmers, women and youth. The high level dependency of majority of Liberians on imported food items at higher cost for living when Liberia has fertile farm land and area, sufficient rain falls, fertile soil which could be cultivated to reduce poverty in the rural communities has been WOCAP major concern. The organization has therefore focus on having people bearing skills in the thematic/focus areas. It is well organized with a structure that enables efficient coordination supervision and monitoring of implements projects. Financial control and reporting system are credibly in place.