USAID/OTI Liberia Field Report
March 2005
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 increasing public understanding of key political transition issues, and promoting participatory community reintegration and peaceful resolution of conflict, LTI is helping to build the momentum for peace. Creative Associates International, Inc. implements the $16,500,000 LTI program through the Youth Education for Life Skills (YES) program, technical assistance for the Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) and a small grants component that supports reintegration in communities where YES and ALP are taking place. Mercy Corps and a consortium of World Vision, Action Aid and Search for Common Ground (WAS) are implementing partners for the YES program.
Country Situation
Election Progress – This month there have been a number of developments that indicate progress towards ensuring the conduct of the October 2005 elections, the event that will mark the end of political transition in Liberia. The National Election Commission (NEC) formed an Inter-Party Consultative Committee that will resolve issues or disputes which arise within and between political parties in the run-up to elections. This avenue for collective responsibility and problem solving is a significant step in political party process development and will contribute to political party confidence in the electoral process while minimizing the likelihood of formal legal challenges to electoral issues. Codes of conduct for the NEC, observers, political parties and the media have been drafted, as has the initial guidelines on campaign finance. The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) reported that NEC electoral supervisors were deployed and that voter registration staff members for the larger counties have been recruited. The International Foundation for Elections Systems reported that construction/refurbishment began on NEC offices in Bong, Lofa, Maryland and Gparpolu counties.
Legislative Shake – Following an investigation by special committee, the National Transitional Legislative Assembly Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, and the Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Order were suspended for fiscal and administrative improprieties. An acting leadership was put into place after which the Supreme Court issued an injunction barring the interim leadership from proceeding, citing a lack of due process. It is widely interpreted that the Court's action was based not on the rule of law, but rather on a political consideration of the potentially destabilizing effect of a battle in the National Transitional Legislative Assembly (NTLA) along former faction lines. The NTLA includes representatives from each of the former warring factions. The fragile peace in Liberia and the volatility of the NTLA was illustrated when supporters of the suspended Speaker stormed the Capitol Building and had to be contained and removed by UNMIL troops.
USAID/OTI Highlights
A. Narrative Summary
This month LTI focused on putting systems in place for the rapid scale up of the YES program with training to begin shortly in approximately 280 communities. YES, a non-formal education program, targets the largest and most volatile segment of the population in Liberia, assisting them to develop life skills which enable them to make better decisions for themselves, their families and their communities. In order to maximize the impact of YES training and facilitate reintegration, small grants will support community focused projects.
OTI program efforts is also furthering the expansion of USAID's Accelerated Learning Program by incorporating grants to parochial ALP schools, which will enable the schools to accommodate additional students. Each school receiving a small grant is required to provide 15-20 scholarships for ALP students and an in-kind contribution. The renovations of these schools support overall community reintegration in that the availability of schools is a key "pull" factor for returnees outside of Monrovia. Additionally, the scholarships provide educational opportunities for overage students, some of whom are ex-combatants, allowing them an avenue for reintegration. Accelerated learning enables students to complete formal primary education in three rather than six years and is a government sponsored program.
B. Grant Activity Summary
In March, LTI signed grants with four ALP schools. Another grant will support leadership training for women for 18 registered political parties.
| Civil Society Org. Support |
|
$ 242,987 |
|
15 |
| Community Impact Activities |
$101,153 |
$ 894,690 |
4 |
28 |
| Conflict Management |
|
$ 858,848 |
|
28 |
| Election Process |
|
$ 116,919 |
|
5 |
| Justice/Human Right |
$ 11,281 |
$ 411,692 |
1 |
17 |
| Media |
|
$ 360,081
| |
11 |
| Good Governance |
|
$ 1,037,483
| |
34 |
| Youth Training / Reintegration |
|
$ 231,390
| |
8 |
| Total |
$112,434 |
$4,154,090
| 5 |
146 |
C. Indicator of Success
Building upon the outcomes of the grants that supported the Transitional Justice Working Group national justice survey and strategy retreat, key civil society groups formed an anti-corruption coalition and strategy. Corruption is viewed by Liberians as a major hindrance to economic growth and a significant contributing factor to instability because without means to earn a living, youth are more easily drawn into violence as perpetrators and victims.
With the participation of community members, YES implementing partner Action Aid submitted seven community focused projects for review and development for small grant support. Projects ranged from the construction of teachers' quarters in one community to cassava grinding machines for income generation in others. Eighteen grants to support the renovation of schools where the Accelerated Learning Program will be conducted were also reviewed. Four ALP grants were signed.
D. Program Appraisal
LTI has made progress in initiating the first phase of the YES program's roll out. For example, LTI held the first coordination meeting of all YES implementing partners (OTI, Creative Associates, Mercy Corps, World Vision, Action Aid and Search for Common Ground) to clarify and agree upon roles and responsibilities. During the meeting, partners began to identify and propose strategies for addressing management challenges that result from the relatively complex implementation structure. A memorandum of understanding has been drafted to spell out how small grants will be administered in those communities where Mercy Corps and the WAS Consortium are implementing YES education circles.
LTI has made headway in quickly identifying challenges and lessons learned from the initial YES delivery. The Curriculum Advisory Committee has modified the curriculum to respond to participant needs and realities. YES program staff prepared an analysis of lessons learned.
Finally, LTI was able to establish a linkage with the World Bank Liberian Agency for Community Empowerment program to share information, lessons learned and to leverage community focused reintegration funds.
NEXT STEPS/IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES
- Implement first round of YES community grants
- Complete YES Master Trainer training of trainers workshop
- Present and incorporate lessons learned into YES curriculum and implementation plan
- Clarify the role and structure of YES youth teams and provide greater support
- Implement first round of ALP school renovations
- Finalize the YES monitoring and evaluation plan for training and grants
For further information, please contact:
In Washington: John Gattorn, Liberia Program Manager, 202-712-4168, jgattorn@usaid.gov
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