USAID/OTI Liberia Field Report August 2004
Program Description
The Liberia Transition Initiative (LTI) supports efforts to advance an inclusive, peaceful, political transition in Liberia in the context of the 2003 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). By restoring critical transitional governance and civil society functions, increasing public understanding of key political transition issues, and promoting community reintegration and peaceful resolution of conflict, LTI is increasing the momentum for the establishment of a lasting peace. Creative Associates International implements the $15 million LTI program through: a small grants component; the Youth Education for Life Skills (YES) non-formal education program; and, technical assistance to U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) partners implementing the Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) for primary schooling of over age children.
Country Situation
LIBERIA CELEBRATES CPA ANNIVERSARY – On August 18, Liberia marked the first anniversary of the CPA with a special session of the National Transitional Legislative Assembly (NTLA). The Chairman of the National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL) and the NTLA Speaker joined with other key political figures who are facilitating government cohesion in pledging to work collaboratively to ensure the success of the peace process. To date, the relationship between the Chairman and the Speaker has been fractious and of grave concern to the donor community. The NTGL includes representatives of former warring factions as well as county, civil society and political party representatives.
LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION – Under the auspices of the U.N. Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), the draft legislation to officially constitute the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was completed and submitted to the NTLA on August 13. If passed, the act will provide the legal framework for the TRC to operate, which will be critical to the administration of transitional justice in Liberia. A LTI small grant enabled the drafting team to hold consultative sessions in five counties.
NATIONAL ELECTIONS REFORM – On August 31, the National Elections Commission (NEC) submitted a reform proposal to the NTLA. Key features include: the selection of a single non-transferable voting system as the mechanism for the October 2005 elections; and suspension of key features of the Constitution (elimination of the ten year residency clause for presidential candidates and the removal of time constraints for nominations). The proposal also calls for changes to the Elections Code that would improve access for voter registration in general and by the disabled and Internally Displaced Persons in particular. In the absence of a current census, the NEC proposes that seats in the House of Representatives be allocated according to voter registration figures within each county. The proposal further calls for increased penalties and restrictions on political parties including the requirement that each party obtain petition signatures in 12 instead of six counties and that there be a cap on campaign expenditures. Finally, the proposal improves the legal framework for parties to resolve disputes.
UNITED NATIONS CONTINUES DISARMAMENT – While UNMIL continues the disarmament and demobilization process; reports continue of sporadic violence by armed individuals identified as members of former warring factions.
USAID/OTI Highlights
A. Narrative Summary
In August, LTI began training the Master Trainers for the Youth Education for Life Skills (YES) Program. Once trained, the Master Trainers will train the local facilitators, which will result in the initiation of the pilot program in three counties in October.
This month, staff completed project development assessment visits to Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Bomi, Bong, Nimba, Gparpolu and Margibi Counties. These counties were selected because they are major population centers and presently home to large numbers of returnees and Internally Displaced Persons, have the potential for conflict, and combined, they correspond approximately to the political divide created by the former warring factions. Three to five projects have been identified in each county.
B. Grant Activity Summary
| Civil Society Support |
$50,306 |
$287,568 |
2 |
11 |
| Community Impact Activities |
$13,550 |
$230,455 |
2 |
11 |
| Conflict Management |
$31,330 |
$325,346 |
1 |
11 |
| Justice/Human Right |
$21,400 |
$322,580 |
2 |
11 |
| Media |
0 |
$148,668
| 0 |
3 |
| Good Governance |
0 |
$957,145 |
0 |
23 |
| Youth Training |
$274,858 |
$274,858 |
3 |
3 |
| TOTAL |
$391,443 |
2,519,618 |
10 |
73 |
C. Program Appraisal
Through “Ministry in a Box” and “NGO in a Box” grants, OTI has made good progress returning critical functionality back to select government ministries and civil society organizations. Further efforts are needed, however, to leverage this basic assistance so institutions can respond to actual citizen needs, both in Monrovia and in rural counties. The pace of this leveraging will be enhanced now that the strategic framework for the LTI mission has been completed, and a more narrowed approach to seven Liberian counties has been defined as a priority for LTI’s grant outreach.
NEXT STEPS/IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES
- YES Master Trainer training of Local Facilitators to enable roll out of pilot program.
- Presentation of the ALP strategic framework to all USAID partners to determine parameters of OTI technical assistance and to develop implementation plans.
- Finalize media focus area strategy.
- Conclude transitional justice survey to provide baseline for designing further project activities.
- Coordinate with United Nations Development Program to get the donor Results Focused Transitional Framework support office up and running.
For further information, please contact:
In Washington: John Gattorn, Liberia Program Manager, 202-712-4168, jgattorn@usaid.gov
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