Food Assistance Programme for the Republic of Liberia FY2022:
Measures for Food Security

Aiming to improve people’s nutrition through the procurement of rice

Agricultural productivity in Liberia is low, and as such the country has depended on imports to meet its food requirements. Yet it has fallen into a more severe and chronic food shortage resulting from global tightness in food supply and demand owing to the invasion of Ukraine and climate change. Food shortages can lead to hunger and malnutrition, threatening the health of the population. In terms of the Food Assistance Programme, JICS aims to improve the nutrition of the people through the procurement of rice, which is a staple food of the Liberian people.

Handover ceremony held in a hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia

Appropriate and prompt procurement based on a relationship of mutual trust

JICS has a long track record in the Food Assistance Programme and has been involved in rice procurement as a partner of the Government of Liberia for over 10 years, thus building a strong relationship of trust. The rice procured is sold at a price that is easy for the local people to afford, and the proceeds from sale are accumulated as a counterpart fund and used for improving logistics infrastructure projects such as constructing food markets and for other projects under appropriate supervision. Japan’s Grant Aid for the Food Assistance Programme is highly appreciated by the Government of Liberia because it also has this knock-on economic benefit.

Project Overview

Procurement of Rice to Improve Chronic Food Shortages

Compounding the Republic of Liberia’s fragile agricultural productivity, the country faces chronic food shortages owing to global tightness in food supply and demand caused by climate change and other factors. In response, the Government of Japan is providing the Food Assistance Programme to support access to food in Liberia.

Counterpart of Agent Agreement	Ministry of Foreign Affair, Republic of Liberia
Grant amount	¥300 million
Exchange of Notes (Bilateral Agreement)	July 27, 2022
Amount procured (Japanese rice)	3,294.0300 tons