Liberia's Road Out of Poverty: Golden Veroleum and the Promise of Sustainable Palm Oil Development

O'Hanlon, John; Abugan, Abi

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/129105 Copy

Description

Title

Liberia's Road Out of Poverty: Golden Veroleum and the Promise of Sustainable Palm Oil Development

Author(s)

• O'Hanlon, John
• Abugan, Abi

Contributor(s)

Magee, Virgil

Issue Date

2015

Keyword(s)

• Golden Veroleum Liberia
• GVL
• Liberia
• FPIC
• palm oil industry
• Liberia economic development
• sustainable agriculture
• post-conflict recovery
• Forest Conservation Policy
• Free, Prior and Informed Consent
• community engagement
• corporate social responsibility
• CSR
• rural infrastructure development
• smallholder program
• poverty alleviation
• employment generation
• environmental sustainability
• agro-industrial investment

Date of Ingest

2025-09-28T15:15:18-05:00

Geographic Coverage

Liberia

Abstract

This article explores the emergence of Golden Veroleum Liberia (GVL) as a key player in Liberia’s post-war economic transformation through sustainable palm oil development. Against the backdrop of global palm oil demand, GVL positions itself as a model for balancing industrial growth with environmental responsibility and social inclusion. Communications Director Virgil Magee outlines how the company applies a Forest Conservation Policy, developed with international NGOs, that goes beyond the standards of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). Central to its approach is the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), implemented through participatory mapping and negotiated social agreements with local communities. The article highlights GVL’s role in addressing rural poverty and deforestation by creating employment—including for ex-combatants—while building schools, clinics, roads, and scholarships to strengthen long-term community welfare. It also emphasizes the company’s investments in technical training, local capacity building, and future export competitiveness. Ultimately, the article presents GVL as both an agro-industrial investor and a development partner, seeking to align corporate responsibility with Liberia’s aspirations for poverty reduction, conservation, and sustainable growth.

Publisher

Business Excellence Magazine

Type of Resource

text

Genre of Resource

article

Language

eng

DOI

10.5281/zenodo.17216835

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