Citizens Petition National Government to Adopt Biodigester as Standard Urban Sanitation Technology

United Youth Leads Petition Engagement with Monrovia City Corporation

Monrovia City Corporation, September 11, 2025

As part of its continued urban sanitation advocacy, United Youth convened a citizen-led petitioning forum to urge the Government of Liberia to adopt biodigester technology as the standard solution for urban sanitation. The engagement was held at the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) and culminated in the presentation of a formal citizens’ petition to the Mayor of Monrovia, calling for national policy action on biodigester standardization.

The petition is expected to reach the office of H.E. Joseph Nyumah Boakai, President of the Republic of Liberia, for endorsement and inclusion in the National Sanitation Plan and Policy.

Purpose of the Petition

The forum aimed to:

• Mobilize civil society, communities, and private sector actors to jointly advocate for biodigester standardization.

• Present a citizen-endorsed petition urging the national government to prioritize biodigester technology in sanitation policy and planning.

• Strengthen engagement between communities, MCC, and national authorities for policy integration and scale-up.

Participants

The petitioning forum brought together 34 participants, including:

• Liberia WASH CSOs Coalition

• Private sector biodigester technology companies

• Members of the WESSEX Technical Working Group (TWGs)

• Community WASH Committee members and community leaders

• Office of the Mayor of Monrovia

• Other WASH stakeholders and the media

This broad coalition reflects a growing citizen movement to replace outdated sanitation methods with sustainable, eco-friendly alternatives.

Presentation of the Petition

The citizens’ petition was formally presented to Hon. Plackie Abel, Director General for Corporate Affairs at the MCC, who received it on behalf of Hon. John Chruck, Mayor of Monrovia. The petition will be forwarded to the Office of the President for review and anticipated endorsement.

The reading of the petition was done by Mr. Joseph Joe, Program Officer of United Youth for Peace, Education, Transparency and Development in Liberia (UYPETDL). The document was officially presented to MCC by Mr. Dekontee Weah, Head of Finance and Administration at UYPETDL.

Key Outcomes

· CSOs and citizens formally petitioned the national government to prioritize biodigester technology as the standard for urban sanitation.

· Petition submitted through the Mayor of Monrovia for inclusion in the national sanitation policy and planning.

· Strengthened multi-stakeholder collaboration involving CSOs, the private sector, community leaders, and government actors to advance urban sanitation reform.

Next Steps

United Youth will:

• Follow up with the Office of the Mayor to monitor the status of the petition’s transmission to the President.

• Strengthen advocacy and engagement with national stakeholders to ensure the petition informs national sanitation policy and implementation.

• Mobilize citizens and CSOs for continued action until biodigester technology is officially standardized in Liberia’s urban sanitation framework.

Toward a Cleaner and Healthier Liberia

This petition marks a critical milestone in citizen-led urban sanitation advocacy. By elevating biodigester technology to the national policy agenda, communities and civil society are helping shape a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future for Liberia’s cities.

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