Liberia is emerging from a horrific civil war that lasted 14 years (1990-2003) and experienced turmoil from 1980 with the overthrow of the democratically-elected government. The impact of the war will remain a factor in Liberian recovery and development for years. Liberia’s transformation continues on a slow but steady course. The democratically-elected government continues to make decisions needed to maintain peace and stability to achieve a better life for all Liberians. It is within this context that U.S. foreign assistance seeks to make an impact to help Liberia rebuild and move forward on the path to sustainable development. U.S. assistance has enabled steady progress under a reform-focused, democratically-elected government and will help to prevent a return to conflict in the wake of the drawdown of United Nations (UN) peacekeeping forces. A secure Liberia is the lynchpin for stability in this part of West Africa.
Overall U.S. assistance goals are to:
1.Maintain Peace and Security;
2.Establish Just and Democratic Governance;
3.Invest in People through Improved Access to Quality Health and Education Services; and
4.Promote Equitable Economic Growth through Increased Opportunities and an Improved Enabling Environment.
These goals can easily be linked with Liberia’s Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS), and its “pillars” for development.
LINKAGES WITH LIBERIA’S POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY (PRS)
The government’s commitment to improving the lot of the Liberian citizen is evident in its Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS). During the finalization of the PRS, government officials visited each of Liberia’s counties and listened to citizens’ most pressing issues. Across the country, people ranked roads, education, and health as their main priorities.USAID’s programs will support the PRS and further the Government of Liberia’s plans to consolidate peace and security, revitalize the economy, strengthen governance and the rule of law, and rehabilitate infrastructure and deliver basic services.
GOVERNING JUSTLY AND DEMOCRATICALLY
USAID’s long-term goal is to establish sustained electoral system management capacity and to improve the overall quality of the formal justice sector. USAID is training magistrates, judges, and other judicial sector personnel through a Judicial Training Institute and targets anti-corruption efforts through support to the Liberian Anti-Corruption Commission. USAID is supporting the National Elections Commission (NEC), leading up to the October 2011 presidential elections and beyond. In 2010, to complement and expand its support to participatory democracy, USAID will boost the institutional and advocacy capacity of civil society and media organizations and strengthen the administrative and operational capacity of staff at the national Legislature.
HEALTH
Although health indicators such as under-five child mortality have improved over the past few years, Liberia has some of the world's worst global health indicators, particularly regarding maternal and child health. USAID supports the Ministry of Health & Social Welfare’s strategy to target basic services in the country's clinics, training of health professionals, and ensuring that basic health care coverage increases. These services will be a major part of the Ministry of Health & Social Welfare’s program to provide a basic package of health services. Areas of concentration include maternal and child health, adolescent and reproductive health, as well as TB and HIV/AIDS. U.S. support through thePresident’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) aims to cut malaria prevalence by half in 2011. Malaria is the main killer of Liberian children under 5 and expectant mothers and afflicts the entire population.
EDUCATION
USAID will continue its support to basic education while expanding support to vocational and higher education. USAID supports the Teacher College at the University of Liberiaand is planning two Centers of Excellence in Agriculture at Cuttington University and in Engineering at the University of Liberia. The Liberia Teacher Training Program, is running the first post-conflict, year-long in-service and pre-service teacher certification program at residential institutes in rural sub-regions outside of the capital area. The Early Grade Reading Assessment Plus – Liberia project provides quantitative baseline data on reading fluency in Liberia’s public schools. An associated intervention includes raising early grade reading skills and piloting curricula for teaching reading. USAID’s Education Office in Liberia also coordinates the FORECAST Participant Training program, which provides advanced educational and capacity-building opportunities for public servants across many sectors of government. The Core Education Skills for Liberian Youth Program follows and expands on the Accelerated Learning Program Plus for youth and overage learners and includes basic education along with workforce development activities to provide a multi-sectoral youth livelihoods program. In 2010, a new activity will build upon the successes of the teacher training program and expand its focus to include building capacity within the Ministry of Education and greater use of Information and Communication Technology.
ECONOMIC GROWTH
USAID promotes Liberia’s advancement from a “rebuilding” to “developing” country in the following ways:
1.Leveraging financial and technical assistance from other non-U.S. sources;
2.Facilitating an enabling policy environment for greater private sector investment;
3.Promoting renewable energy technologies for power and agricultural production; and
4.Equipping Liberians with the requisite technical skills to design, construct, and maintain infrastructure projects.
In the economic growth sector, USAID focuses on small to medium infrastructure and extensive training programs to increase food security and stimulate opening of markets. USAID funds agriculture sector policy work, strengthens farmer access to markets, and provides improved seed varieties. USAID also works with communities to build farm to market roads to help increase income and develops micro-credit initiatives to support small Liberian businesses. USAID also supports the energy sector to extend energy services in Monrovia and to rural areas. Land tenure issues affect investment and can lead to conflict and instability. U.S. assistance works with local communities and at the national policy level to improve clarity and promote consensus on land tenure issues. USAID-supported community forestry initiatives help establish sound policies and practices to ensure that the Liberian population benefits from its forests and related natural resources.
CROSS-CUTTING THEMES
Cross-cutting themes across the USAID portfolio in Liberia include water, climate change, gender, youth, information and communication technology (ICT), and anti-corruption. The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) threshold program is also integrated with the economic growth and education sectors.
