By: Daniel Momo Sirleaf, Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Officer, IITA – Liberia

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Country Office in Liberia, through its EU-funded Soils4Liberia Project, has successfully concluded a three-day intensive digital data management training for laboratory staff of the University of Liberia (UL) and representatives from the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI), and the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA). Held from December 2–4, 2025, at the UL Soil Testing, Plant and Water Analysis Laboratory on the Fendall Campus, the training marked a significant step toward enhancing national capacity for soil data generation.

The Soils4Liberia Project is expected to play a central role in supporting Liberia in building the knowledge and institutional capacity required for sustainable land and soil management. Soil samples that will be collected from field campaigns will be analyzed at the UL Soil Lab, making the University a critical partner in advancing the project’s goals. Recognizing this, IITA–Liberia organized the training to ensure that national partners have the digital competencies required for accurate, efficient, and traceable laboratory operations.

Speaking during the opening session, Soils4Liberia Project Manager, Dr. Abebe Shiferaw Dakka, emphasized that capacity building remains a fundamental pillar of the project. He described the training as an investment in sustainable national systems, particularly as Liberia expands its soil analysis work.

“Building the skills of our national partners ensures that research institutions are equipped to generate quality, science-based data for decision-making,” he said, noting that strengthening UL’s laboratory capacity is essential for achieving the project’s long-term outcomes.

The training introduced participants to the ODK Collect application and the ONA cloud server platforms. Participants learned how to develop and deploy XLSForms for registering soil samples, documenting chain-of-custody processes, and recording laboratory preparation and analysis results. A major highlight was the introduction of barcode-enabled digital forms, allowing technicians to track samples seamlessly across workflow stages.

Training featured intensive hands-on exercises led by Mr. Joseph Archie Koilor, the Soils4Liberia Project Data Management Officer at IITA Liberia. Participants practiced form deployment, uploading data to the ONA server, cleaning datasets, and exporting structured information for reporting. The practical nature of the sessions allowed participants to apply the tools directly to ongoing laboratory work, ensuring skills were immediately transferable.

The training climaxed on December 4 with a closing ceremony and certification of participants. The event was graced by notable UL officials, including Dr. Salia S. Sheriff, Director of the UL Soil Laboratory; Professor James S. Kiazolu, former Soil Lab Director; and Mr. Alphanso C. Davies, Administrative Assistant to the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Forestry. Dr. Dakka commended participants for their dedication and regarded the training as a milestone in strengthening Liberia’s soil research infrastructure.

Participants expressed appreciation for the initiative, describing it as timely and transformational. As Liberia prepares for a nationwide survey and soil analysis under Soils4Liberia, the new skill sets in digital workflows will help reduce errors, enhance traceability, and improve the overall management of soil data at the UL Soil Lab.

The successful completion of the training underscores IITA’s commitment to building the capacity of national partners’ institutions in Liberia. Through continued collaboration with UL, MoA, and CARI, Soils4Liberia is helping lay the foundation for a more efficient, accurate, and modern soil data management system that will benefit farmers, researchers, and policymakers nationwide.