The WACOMP WACQIP implemented by UNIDO, the Delegation of the European Union to Liberia and CERATH held a coordination meeting on 18 February 2021 to coordinate their activities, although mainly on the value chain of cassava and its derivatives. 

The meeting was fruitful, concretely in view of EUD Liberia’s engagement in WACOMP, very crucial as the national component in Liberia will be approved soon with CERATH as implementing agency. 
Liberia WACOMP component will have cassava as selected value chain and EUD Liberia was, in particular, seeking support from the WACQIP project (implemented by UNIDO) as regional WACOMP component on the involvement and past/upcoming activities and interventions on i) cassava value chain on a regional level and ii) WACQIP interventions in Liberia respectively. 
In particular, the WACOMP Liberia component will focus on supporting national standards laboratories and it seems there are many needs being expressed by different stakeholders and beneficiaries in Liberia, in particular on QI and laboratory assistance and equipment.
The EUD works mainly with three national focal points, one of them Stephen Mambu. It has been suggested to hold a further meeting in around 2 weeks, inviting also Mr. Mambu. 
A suggestion from UNIDO was to create regional working groups of WACOMP components that share the same value chain, to ensure coordination and synergy of action and avoid duplication of activities between the regional and national components.. 
Furthermore, the need of sharing experiences and take away lessons learned from other countries with cassava value chain (Ghana, Sierra Leone) has been highlighted as it would be beneficial in terms of possible joint activities. 
EUD Liberia expressed their demand to be more updated on WACQIP interventions in Liberia and it has been suggested to put EUD in copy when UNIDO is communicating to the National Focal Points. 
Everybody agreed on enhancing complementarities and indeed it is also in Liberia’s interest to benefit from the regional interventions, such as mutual recognition of inspection bodies to ensure free movement of products. 
UNIDO will send national and regional assessment reports to EUD Liberia.
WACOMP Liberia component plans the following activities with the National Standards Body of Liberia:

• Develop Liberian standards and technical regulations and train value chain actors on its applications
• Establish testing services for determining the quality and safety indicators and secure accreditation (against identified critical parameters for cassava and derivatives) for microbiology and food chemistry labs.
• Institute training, food safety, and product certification units to provide services to cassava value chain actors
• Deploy calibration and verification services with associated measuring equipment and instruments essential for the cassava value chain.