USAID/OTI Liberia Field Report
December 2004
Program Description
The Liberia Transition Initiatives (LTI) supports efforts to advance prospects for an inclusive, peaceful, political transition in Liberia in the context of the 2003 Comprehensive Peace Accord (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 enhancing the momentum for building peace. Creative Associates International, Inc. implements the $15 million LTI program through a small grants component, the Youth Education for Life Skills (YES) program and technical assistance for the Accelerated Learning Program (ALP).
Country Situation
Elections Reform Bill Signed – The Chairman of the National Transitional Government (NTGL) signed into law the Electoral Reform Bill on December 17. The National Elections Commission (NEC) announced that voter and civic education will begin January 31, 2005 with voter registration starting in April for the October 2005 elections. Citing the five month delay in getting the electoral law through the NTGL Assembly, the NEC Chairman indicated that there is a very short time frame for organizing the elections and called for the NTGL to fulfill its pledge of $2.5 million for the commission’s work.
Natural Resources Sanctions Extended – Following the report of the Panel of Experts on Liberia, the United Nations Security Council unanimously approved the renewal of timber export sanctions, the importing of weapons, the freezing of assets and the ban on travel by certain former government officials for one year. Diamond sanctions were renewed for six months but will be reviewed in three months as Liberia has made some progress in the implementation of the Kimberley process. The Kimberly scheme is designed to prevent the illegal trade of diamonds in areas of conflict. In its findings, the Security Council indicated that Liberia government’s continued failure to exercise control over its natural resources makes it necessary to continue sanctions in order to prevent the proceeds from these resources being utilized to fuel conflicts in the sub-region.
Increase in the Price of Rice – The price of rice, the staple food, has increased sharply over the past month causing widespread concern about the potentially destabilizing effect.
USAID/OTI Highlights
A. Narrative Summary
LTI continues its support to initiatives that mitigate conflict and promote a peaceful path to the elections scheduled for later this year. For example, during the past month LTI extended a highly successful training on early warning mechanisms and conflict mitigation in Margibi County. The training is being conducted by the West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) and provides community members with the tools necessary to identify and mitigate conflict in its early stages.
LTI continues to support the Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG), a consortium of 23 civil society and human rights groups, in their work on promoting a meaningful Truth and Reconciliation process. The entire TJWG will convene in January to develop a comprehensive advocacy campaign using the results of the recently completed and released national survey on transitional justice issues. The results of the survey clearly showed that a majority of Liberians desire to put their experiences throughout the war on record.
LTI was pleased to launch the urban-tailored Peace Education program which will assist 900 youths in Monrovia to discuss and reflect on important issues related to peace in their communities. This program is based on the YES curriculum and will be delivered through three community-based youth organizations.
Also this month, LTI supported a consortium of youth artists to create murals of peace messages in open, public spaces throughout the capital Monrovia.
B. Grant Activity Summary
| Civil Society Support |
|
$ 218,592 |
|
13 |
| Community Impact Activities |
|
$ 741,191 |
|
21 |
| Conflict Management |
$64,714 |
$ 644,147 |
4 |
26 |
| Election Process |
|
$ 1,285 |
|
1 |
| Justice/Human Right |
$33,425 |
$ 440,645 |
1 |
15 |
| Media |
|
$ 270,409
| |
7 |
| Good Governance |
|
$1,169,937 |
|
34 |
| Youth Training |
$ 3,305 |
$ 16,642 |
1 |
2 |
| TOTAL |
$101,444 |
$3,502,848 |
6 |
119 |
C. Indicators of Success
Approximately 45 to 55 percent of YES participants are females and many of them view the program as a chance to learn to read and write. One female participant explained, “We just want to know something for ourselves” while another one said, “The YES program is teaching me to learn about myself.” In another example, the module focusing on self-esteem has begun to transform and touched individual lives. Young female participants have told both their colleagues and guests that they are beginning to transform their lives from being sex-workers to “planning better ways of living.” One said that she had “never had the opportunity to see herself as an individual” before.
Additionally former ex-combatants are also active participants. There is a case of a former LURD commander who is now a Local Facilitator in Cape Mount. Since starting with the program AA staff members have noticed a new person emerging. His appearance has changed (i.e. hair cut and more orderly appearance) and he has said that he is proud to be using his leadership skill for something positive. Another ex-combatant said, “After these few weeks in the sessions I don’t think that I can be convince again to take up arms and destroy my community.”
NEXT STEPS/IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES
- Launching the YES program nationwide through implementing partners.
- Conducting the TOT for Master Trainers of the Accelerated Learning Program.
- Identification of linkages between YES communities and grants to support community based initiatives.
For further information, please contact:
In Washington: John Gattorn, Liberia Program Manager, 202-712-4168, jgattorn@usaid.gov
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