Monrovia, Liberia – April 21, 2025 — The Government of Liberia, through the Ministries of Agriculture and Health, in collaboration with the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS), has launched a six-day training for 120 enumerators in preparation for the 2025 Comprehensive Food Security and Nutrition Survey (CFSNS). The enumerators, selected from all 15 counties, will play a crucial role in collecting accurate, up-to-date data to guide national development strategies.
The training in Monrovia is a significant step toward generating real-time, evidence-based insights needed to inform policy decisions and support targeted interventions addressing food insecurity and malnutrition.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Assistant Minister for Planning and Development, Mr. Francis Mulbah, underscored the importance of current data in addressing Liberia’s persistent food and nutrition challenges.
“For years, Liberia has struggled with outdated data, limiting the ability of our partners to support targeted interventions,” said Minister Mulbah. “This survey will provide current, reliable information to drive evidence-based decision-making.

Minister Mulbah also emphasized the critical role of the enumerators. “You are the nucleus of this entire process,” he stated. “What you collect as data is what our partners will use to inform policy and improve the livelihood of the Liberian people. If what you provide us is unrealistic, then the lives of our grandmothers in villages without access to roads will not improve.”

The 2025 CFSNS is a collaborative effort supported by key development partners, including the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Minister Mulbah expressed appreciation for the partners’ financial and logistical support, which has made the training and upcoming survey possible.

Representing the Health Ministry, Dr. Bedee Gbozee, Director of Nutrition, highlighted the urgency and human impact behind the data collection. “Behind every data collected is a story,” Dr. Gbozee said. “A mother unsure of her next meal, a child suffering from chronic malnutrition. A household surviving on minimum rations. This survey will voice the stories of these people. It will generate the evidence needed to move from assumption to action and policy to progress.”  

Dr. Gbozee also revealed that Liberia faces a high malnutrition rate, currently estimated at 30%, along with issues such as micronutrient deficiencies and low dietary diversity.

The last nationwide food security and nutrition survey was conducted in 2018. Since then, resource limitations have restricted efforts to smaller, rapid assessments that did not provide a complete national picture. The 2025 CFSNS, set to begin on May 1, is expected to fill that gap, offering comprehensive insights to shape future policies and improve food security and public health across Liberia.