USAID/OTI Liberia Field Report July 2004
Program Description
USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives’ Liberia Transition Initiative (LTI) is part of the U.S. government’s efforts to promote stability and a smooth transition from civil war to elections in October 2005 under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed on August 18, 2003. Since it began operations in March 2004, LTI has been working in Liberia to promote good governance and independent media, strengthen key civil society organizations, support human rights and transitional justice initiatives, and promote the reintegration of communities and reconciliation for all Liberians. Specifically, LTI’s three objectives are to:
- Restore critical functions for transitional governance and civil society development;
- Increase public understand of key political transition issues;
- Promote community reintegration and peaceful resolution of conflict.
To meet these objectives, illustrative LTI activities include providing repairs and equipment to ministry and municipal governments, schools, and markets, conducting public information campaigns and voter education, and supporting community re-integration and civil society conflict mitigation activities.
Country Situation
Unlike a year ago when the country was embroiled in factional violence, Liberians celebrated their 157th Independence Day on July 26 in relative calm. Also this month, the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) upgraded the security status of the remaining areas of Liberia previously classified as unsafe (Sinoe, River Cess, Grand Kru, River Gee and Maryland Counties). This positive development has increased access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance as well as the opportunities for international donors to become established across the country.
On July 28, the chairman and representatives of selected former warring factions in the National Transitional Government met in Ghana to review progress made in the implementation of the 2003 Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The most contentious issues included the appointment process for government officials and the employment of presidential aspirants in key national agencies.
With regards to disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, UNMIL reported that as of the end of July, 59,045 former combatants had been disarmed and processed for demobilization since April 2004. Of this number, 53,471 have graduated from the demobilization program.
USAID/OTI Highlights
A. Narrative Summary
LTI has completed the curriculum for the Youth Education for Life Skills (YES) program inserting a functional literacy component into each of the six modules which are titled: My Identity; World of Work; Health and Us; Living Peacefully; Good Governance; and Our Environment. The development of the curriculum was a collaborative process involving a ten member Curriculum Advisory Committee of Liberian experts. This committee will be active throughout the implementation of the YES program and will meet periodically to modify the curriculum according to ongoing monitoring and evaluation.
LTI continues to work in collaboration with other international actors such as UNMIL, UN agencies and The World Bank to provide strategic support, enhance shared objectives, and leverage resources. Collaborative activities for the month of July included grants to:
- Provide essential equipment and supplies to the secretariat that monitors the implementation and progress of the Results Focused Transitional Framework for Liberia that was developed subsequent to the February 2004 international donor conference. The World Bank and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) are providing support for the salaries of key secretariat staff.
- Provide funding for consultative sessions with a broad spectrum of citizens in five counties on the drafting of enabling legislation for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Funds for the drafting of the legislation will be covered by UNDP and UNMIL.
- Renovate office space for the Governance Reform Commission to enhance capacity for its activities which are being financed by UNDP.
- Provide essential equipment and supplies for five local NGOs in four counties who are partnered with the USAID-Liberia Community Infrastructure Project (LCIP) to employ ex-combatants and resident war-affected youth.
- Work with UNICEF, LCIP and other NGOs on a coordinated national delivery of accelerated learning programs throughout Liberia for children who have not been to school because of the conflict.
B. Grant Activity Summary – USAID/OTI Liberia
| Civil Society |
$ 0 |
$161,150 |
0 |
9 |
| Community Impact Activities |
$81,000 |
$180,999 |
2 |
8 |
| Conflict Management |
$ 33,000 |
$315,071 |
1 |
11 |
| Justice/Human Right |
$115,180 |
$289,180 |
5 |
9 |
| Media |
|
$112,668
| |
3 |
| Good Governance |
$237,598 |
$936,911 |
5 |
23 |
| TOTAL |
$466,778 |
$1,995,979 |
13 |
63 |
INDICATORS OF SUCCESS
Recently, LTI provided a grant for a new well for the 1,000 students and faculty at the G.W Gibson High School and the surrounding community in Monrovia, which had not had potable water for the past 15 years. When interviewed about the project the school principal said: “This is the greatest gift to this school (for) we can now help to educate our students in a more conducive environment. Thanks to LTI, we also have new chairs and major renovation on other broken chairs for students. Our joy knows no bounds.” G.W. Gibson is one of five public high schools where LTI engaged in a conflict prevention program to peacefully resolve student street protests in early April,
NEXT STEPS/IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES
LTI program priorities for the next month are to:
- Develop a training program for journalists and government public affairs/press officers in partnership with UNDP;
- Develop program strategies for LTI support in six counties;
- Conduct training for the YES program Master Trainers;
- Conduct an assessment of alternative learning program capacities throughout Liberia;
- Complete the instrument for the transitional justice survey.
For further information, please contact:
In Washington: John Gattorn, Liberia Program Manager, 202-712-0716, jgattorn@usaid.gov
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