USAID/OTI Liberia Hot Topics
February 2005
U.S. Ambassador Opens Robertsport Administrative Building
U.S. Ambassador to Liberia John Blaney and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Assistant Administrator for Africa, Lloyd Pierson participated in the opening ceremony of the Robertsport Administrative building. USAID's Liberia Transition Initiative (LTI) and Liberia Community Infrastructure Project (LCIP) equipped the Robertsport Administrative building for the effective re-establishment of local government administrative functions.
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| U. S. Amb. John Blaney III (center) with Liberian Internal Affairs Minister (left) and USAID's Llyod Pierson (right) at opening of local government building. |
In the summer of 2004, USAID signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Liberian Ministry of Internal Affairs to rehabilitate and equip five local government buildings in five counties. The administrative buildings were ransacked during the civil war and remained nothing more than a shell. Local government officials have been working in these unprotected and devastated spaces, or finding other work locations in individual homes using what furniture and equipment could be locally borrowed.
Revitalization of local governance structures is a critical issue for the establishment of peace throughout the country and the successful reintegration of more than eighty-five percent of the population who have been displaced during the war. The timing of the grants is also imperative. National elections will be held in October 2005 and it is key to the success of the elections to have the electorate in their home locations for the voting process. By providing the capacity for local government offices to be up and running once again, USAID is making a significant contribution towards this aim.
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| Liberian Local Government Building - Before and after USAID-funded repairs. |
The combined efforts of LTI and LCIP are a good example of collaborative programming and maximizing USAID assistance. LCIP, through its community-based infrastructure works, is undertaking the renovation of the building sites, while LTI will provide essential office equipment and supplies.
During the ceremony, Minister of Internal Affairs, Dan Morias thanked USAID for its support. "The US Government's continued assistance to Liberia and specifically supporting local government is greatly appreciated. This will allow the government to fulfill its obligations to all Liberians for the delivery of effective governance services."
For further information, please contact:
In Washington: John Gattorn, Liberia Program Manager, 202-712-0716, jgattorn@usaid.gov
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