BAKU, Azerbaijan – The Government of Liberia, through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has signed a scholarship agreement with the University of Cambridge’s Democratizing Education for Global Sustainability and Justice Programme. The agreement was signed on Tuesday, November 19, during the COP 29 Climate Conference in Baku.

The deal will enable 150 Liberians to enroll in an online course titled “Climate Law and Governance.” The course will be taught by Professors from around the World including Cambridge University. It is a non-credit two week or 8-10 hours’ online course that will certificate participants at the end of the course.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo, Executive Director of the EPA, expressed gratitude to the Centre for Sustainable Development and the University of Cambridge for their support.

“On behalf of the Government of Liberia and our team here in Baku, we want to thank the Centre for Sustainable Development and the University of Cambridge for this opportunity,” Dr. Urey Yarkpawolo said. “This program will build the capacity of Liberians interested in environmental law and governance, which is vital as we work on developing our climate law. The course is estimated at a market value of 1,800 GBP each per participant and if 150 Liberians benefit, this is 1,800 GBP times 150, which is 270,000 GBP. This huge and we are very grateful for this initiatives”, the EPA Boss emphasized.

Professor Marie-Claire Cordonier Segger, representing the Democratizing Education for Global Sustainability and Justice Programme, shared her enthusiasm about the partnership. “We are delighted to collaborate with the EPA to offer this course to Liberia. The course aligns with the goals of the Paris Agreement and will strengthen legal capacity in sustainable development, which borders on law and policy,”. She added that the program’s mission is to democratize education on sustainable development and provide legal training globally.

Anyone who has obtained a Bachelor Degree and is passionate about the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and Sustainable Development can take the course. The EPA will come out with application criteria and will inform the public.

This initiative is expected to enhance Liberia’s efforts in environmental governance and sustainable development as the country navigates the challenges of climate change.

The event was witnessed by Hon. Philip C. Parker, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Forestry Development Authority and Hon. Ansu V. S. Dulleh Sr. , the Director General of the National Disaster Management Agency, as well as a host of governmental officials and civil society actors representing Liberia at the COP29 taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan.