Don't Laugh! It really is. Designated by the World Toilet Organization to highlight the sanitation needs in under developed nations. In Liberia, 3.5 million people share 1,600 toilets. Many people just use the nearest bush or beach, when millions of people do it, it creates quite the problem.We look at sanitation in Liberia in this story from IRIN. It shows the difficulty buying water for sanitation, and how the problem can accumulate in Liberia's slums. While rural water and sanitation facilities usually fare worse than urban ones in West Africa, partly due to government expenditure patterns and relatively higher poverty levels, the capital Monrovia’s “dire sanitation facilities” bucks this trend, according to WASH consortium advocacy manager Muyatwa Sitali.Congested housing, no...
Today, CIPE launched the new Liberia Local Governance Toolkit, in cooperation with Global Integrity and Liberian partner the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL). This is the first assessment ever performed of mechanisms to counter corruption at Liberia’s local level, with data covering all 15 counties in the country. Holding events in Washington, DC, and Monrovia, Liberia, CIPE and its partners released the key findings of the assessment. The toolkit reveals the following areas as key to building strong local governance in Liberia:
• Strong civil society organizations involved in county-level governance
• Greater public access to information
• Whistle-blowing measures
• Strong property rights regime
Why is CIPE interested in information on local...
The organization Jubilee USA issued a statement yesterday that called on the international community to help Haiti and Liberia. The group says that delays in granting debt relief to the two countries have gone on long enough. Jubilee USA asks the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to act quickly, just as they did to help the banks with the credit crisis. Here are some quotes from leaders of Jubilee USA, clipped from their blog Blog The DebtNeil Watkins, National Coordinator of Jubilee USA Network, said: “After four hurricanes in a month and an escalating food crisis it is outrageous that Haiti is being told it must wait six more months for debt relief. This is like Hank Paulson telling Wall Street he will get back to them in the New Year.”“Haiti has been dealing with...
from the Daily Record This is a story on the charity called Mary's Meals. This charity gives a lot lore than food to the children of Liberia. - KaleBy Samantha BoothORPHANED children wandering alone around city streets is not an unusual sight in Liberia.The war-torn country is home to thousands of youngsters who have lost parents in the battles between factions who seek to gain control over the gold and diamond mines.Many are former child soldiers who are desperately trying to adapt to life free from enslavement by the rival armies.Some are simply lost and lonely children looking for a way to stave off starvation.Life in Liberia, on the west coast of Africa, is particularly cruel for youngsters with a disability.One nine-year-old deaf boy was found wandering the streets in the city of...
from All Africa The NEWS (Monrovia)The Youth Action International (YAI) is expected to shortly launch new anti-poverty and youth empowerment projects across Liberia. The project would be launched by Liberian child rights activist Kimmie Weeks.Joining Weeks in his initiative include YAI's partners Litworld and Humanity Unites Youth (HUB). Litworld is an American based organization which is pioneering new ideas in the areas of teaching, reading and writing for Liberian students.Working in a collaborative model alongside teachers, librarians, administrators, support staff and students, Litworld creates powerful structures and motivations for enhanced education.YAI and its partners will work to implement series of new teacher training techniques to help teachers become more effective.Pam...
from the Washington PostFeelings Mixed as Aid Workers Live WellBy Craig TimbergMONROVIA, Liberia -- The second sushi bar to open in ragged postwar Liberia did not settle for having its chefs wear simple T-shirts, or for serving $25 worth of sliced fish on plain white plates.Instead, the Barracuda Bar -- the new favorite hangout of ambassadors, U.N. officials and legions of aid workers whose shiny white SUVs jam the parking lot most nights -- opted to dress its staff in Japanese-style robes and red bandannas. Bigger orders of salmon and yellowtail arrived not on flatware but on little wooden sushi boats. Lobsters languished sullenly in a tank near the door, waving their antennae as customers walked by.As this impoverished country climbs its way back from 13 years of civil war with the...
from All Africa The NEWS (Monrovia)The Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with its development partners will conduct a two-day strategy workshop from May 8-9, 2008 at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville, near Monrovia, an Agriculture release disclosed.According to the release, the workshop is expected to bring together major actors in the agricultural field, food security and natural resources management sectors.Participants will share ideas on the current global food crisis, challenges and lessons learnt and will adopt a new plan of action to cope with the prevailing food security situation in Liberia.Organizers hinted that discussions at the workshop will ensure that organizations and partners involved are familiar with the poverty Reduction Strategy and Draft...
from All AfricaMONROVIA, A surge in rice prices in 1979 contributed to Liberia's descent into chaos, sparking riots and a political crisis that led to the coup that brought Samuel Doe to power. Now the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has identified Liberia as one of 37 countries facing a hunger crisis as a result of food price hikes."Given our history of conflict, if we want to ensure there is stability and that peace is consolidated, we want rice to become available, accessible and affordable," said Minister for Agriculture Chris Toe.Toe told IRIN developing rice production for commercial sale would prevent thousands of Liberians being pushed deeper into poverty as the cost of living soars.Liberia currently imports 90 percent of its rice – the staple of its 3 million people...
from All AfricaThe Inquirer (Monrovia)NEWS21 April 2008Posted to the web 21 April 2008MonroviaThe Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has declared an outbreak of yellow fever after a case was confirmed from Nimba County on March 28, 2008.A health Ministry release said as a response to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread of the disease, a mass yellow fever campaign would be conducted starting April 21, 2008 in the two high risk counties of Nimba and Grand Gedeh.The campaign will first target Tappita and Sacleapia Districts of Nimba County and later scaled up to cover the rest of the districts in both Counties.The two counties according to the release are being targeted because, the victim of the first confirmed case had traveled and had stayed briefly in Putu District, Grand...
Exciting things happening in Liberia right now, especially at the Ministry of Finance. I am pleased to announce the Liberian Minister of Finance, Dr. Antoinette Sayeh, will be speaking at CGD event later this month. Minister Sayeh will offer an overview of recent developments in Liberia covering debt relief, Liberia's Poverty Reduction Strategy, and overall economic progress; a moderated discussion will follow. Liberia recently reached its HIPC decision point, a huge milestone in the long process towards comprehensive debt relief. In April, Liberia will release its Poverty Reduction Strategy, laying out priorities and goals for the next three years (for earlier analyses of Liberia's development progress, see the CGD essay co-authored by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and myself and my...
from All AfricaThe NEWS (Monrovia)Officials of an international organization are expected to discuss global poverty issue today with Liberia's President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.CARE Nederland National Director Guus Eskens and CARE USA-CEO, Dr. Helene Gayle are expected to meet the President at the Foreign Ministry.According to a release from CARE, Dr. Gayle and Mr. Eskens intend to discuss the shared interests of CARE with President Johnson-Sirleaf. They will also explain CARE's purpose in Africa, and its commitment to ending global poverty.The organization says it places special emphasis on investing in women and girls because experience shows that their empowerment benefits whole communities.In addition to their meeting with President Johnson Sirleaf, Dr. Gayle and Mr. Eskens are...
from All AfricaThe Analyst (Monrovia)NEWSThe Liberian government has been advised to strive to provide free education or a minimum cost education as a mean of reducing poverty in the country.A Liberian national, Gester E. Murray advised that this will help promote national security, peace and development in our society.Mr. Murray, Assistant Minister of Land and Mine and Energy made the disclosure yesterday at the Monrovia City Hall during the launch of the 'Kettehkumehnn Intellectual Forum' which is based on the campus of the University of Liberia (UL).Speaking on the theme, "Statement on Educational Enlightenment", Mr. Murray said with education, independent judgment is assured and manipulation minimized and also provides road map top survive in a competing world of depleting...
from All AfricaUN Integrated Regional Information NetworksDakarDonor and aid agency management of the transition from emergency to relief programming is being questioned by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) which has launched a US$128 million appeal to cover the needs of Liberians who it says are being under-supported while donors shift to longer-term programming."Resources are needed to ensure that the critical humanitarian gaps and needs of highly vulnerable communities during this important transitional period are addressed," the OCHA appeal, released on 10 March, states.The report presents 19 "high-priority projects" in the health, food security, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sectors which it says if funded would benefit more than 2 million...
from AFP via GoogleMONROVIA (AFP) — Liberia's health services are chronically understaffed with only 51 native doctors in the war-ravaged west African nation, Health Minister Walter Gwanigale said Thursday."If we go by the (UN) millennium development goals, for a population about 2.3 million people, we should have a minimum of 960 doctors. Right now Liberia has 122 doctors, and 51 of those are Liberian doctors," Gwanigale told AFP.Many of the doctors working in Liberia are employed by non-governmental organisations, the minister said.The country is still emerging from 14 years of successive and brutal civil wars during which much of its infrastructure was destroyed, including clinics that have yet to be rebuilt.Gwanigale said that unless Liberia tackled the problem, "we are not going to...
from All AfricaThe Analyst (Monrovia)The First Draft of Liberia's Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) is now available for review on the Executive Mansion site (www.emansion.gov.lr) as well as the Ministry of Finance website (http://www.mofliberia.org/).The cover note from Minister of Finance, Dr. Antoinette Sayeh, offers appreciation to members of government, the private sector, civil society, donor organizations, and citizens from each of Liberia's 15 political subdivisions for their contributions to the first draft, which is still under review."It represents a substantial amount of time, effort, and energy by a large number of people. We are very grateful indeed for all of these contributions," noted Minister Sayeh.The purpose of the first draft is to give all interested persons an...
from All AfricaThe NEWS (Monrovia)The Coordinator of the Liberia Emergency Empowerment Program (LEEP), Alfred C. Sayon has assured students that government was doing everything possible to ensure the reduction of poverty in Liberia.Sayon also said government was committed to the creation of jobs opportunities for Liberians to enable them meet their basic daily needs.He spoke recently at program marking the celebration of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty at the Len Millar High School in Sinkor. The day is celebrated on October 17 each year.This year's celebration brought together more than 1,000 students, religious leaders, faith groups, youths and government officials.Sayon commended the Youth for Community Academic and Development Services (YOCADS) and United Nations...
from All AfricaThe NEWS (Monrovia)NEWSBy Jimmey C. FahngonMonroviaThousands of students mostly from public schools in Monrovia on Wednesday stood up for several hours in a campaign to eradicate poverty in their country.The 'stand up' was also in celebration of this year's World Poverty Eradication Day which is celebrated on October 17 each year.Some of the student spoke with The NEWS and said their action was geared towards reminding world leaders to fulfill their promise made during the 2000 New York Millennium conference at which time it was agreed to reduce poverty by half by 2015.But the students said since the declaration by world leaders much was yet to be seen by them especially in Africa as it relates to reducing poverty in 2015.Student Jacqualine Wesseh said it was incumbent upon...
from World PressLiberia is finalizing a strategy aimed at boosting the government's capacity to tackle hunger and malnutrition—one pillar of an overall turn toward development after years of stop-gap measures aimed at picking up the pieces from war, observers say."This is the Liberian government reorienting itself toward development," said researcher Todd Benson of the International Food Policy Research Institute, who assisted agencies working on the strategy.The national "Food Security and Nutrition Strategy," developed by the government in collaboration with the United Nations World Food Program (W.F.P.) and Food and Agriculture Organization, identifies how the government will coordinate itself to tackle chronic hunger—a challenge across the region but particularly in Liberia where...
from All AfricaUN Integrated Regional Information NetworksNEWSMonroviaLiberia is finalising a strategy aimed at boosting the government's capacity to tackle hunger and malnutrition - one pillar of an overall turn towards development after years of stop-gap measures aimed at picking up the pieces from war, observers say."This is the Liberian government reorienting itself towards development," said researcher Todd Benson of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), who assisted agencies working on the strategy.The national "Food Security and Nutrition Strategy", developed by the government in collaboration with the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), identifies how the government will coordinate itself to tackle chronic hunger - a...
from All AfricaThe Inquirer (Monrovia)NEWSBy Charles B. YatesThe United State Aid for International Development (USAID) 12-million dollar Community Peace-Building and Development Program (CPBD) which was launched five years ago has been successfully completed in 200 villages in Liberia.The program, which was awarded to the Academy for Educational Development (AED), Mercy Corps and Search for Common Group, was implemented by two local partners- the Action For Greater Harvest (AGHRA) and the National Adult Educational Association of Liberia (NAEAL).Speaking at the project completion ceremony, the United States Ambassador to Liberia Donald Booth said the community Peace-Building and Development Program was the first USAID-funded development program in Liberia since the cessation of the...
from All AfricaThe Inquirer (Monrovia)NEWSBy Webster CassellUNMIL boss, Allan Doss, says the Justice system in Liberia is a major arm in terms of delivering massive interim poverty reduction strategy to the people of the country.Speaking yesterday at the opening of a two-day round table conference for senior and junior level employees of the Ministry of Justice on the objectives of the Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), Ambassador Doss noted that if people do not feel safe and secured, they will not invest and without investment and saving, there will be no end to poverty.The UNMIL Boss noted that poverty will not be reduced in the country if the country does not seek the way to put an end to the violence, conflicts and struggles that engulfed the country in recent years.He...
from Reuters Alert NetMONROVIA, 21 August 2007 (IRIN) - Liberia is finalising a strategy aimed at boosting the government's capacity to tackle hunger and malnutrition - one pillar of an overall turn towards development after years of stop-gap measures aimed at picking up the pieces from war, observers say."This is the Liberian government reorienting itself towards development," said researcher Todd Benson of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), who assisted agencies working on the strategy.The national "Food Security and Nutrition Strategy", developed by the government in collaboration with the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), identifies how the government will coordinate itself to tackle chronic hunger - a challenge across...
2007 Armed Conflicts Report: Preview (Project Ploughshares, 2007) [text]
Housing and Property Restitution for Refugees and Displaced Persons: Implementing the ‘Pinheiro Principles’ (OCHA/IDD, UN HABITAT, UNHCR, FAO, OHCHR, NRC & IDMC, March 2007 (print), July 2007 (electronic)) [text]
Internally displaced in Chad: Trapped between civil conflict and Sudan’s Darfur crisis (IDMC, July 2007)...
In
Housing,
Chad,
evaluation,
internally displaced persons,
armed conflict,
population distribution,
schools,
safety of refugees,
right to property,
urban areas,
manuals,
Liberia
The UN Security Council has lifted its ban on diamond exports in Liberia, on the grounds that the post-conflict country has made significant progress in establishing necessary internal controls to comply with the Kimberley Process--a mechanism intended to keep blood diamonds off world markets and to ensure that all diamonds exported are certified. This is the second vote of confidence for President Johnson Sirleaf, following an ease on a timber ban last year. It shows that the international community has faith that the country can turn its back on the brutal past, where diamonds were used to finance weapons and fund fighting in a horrific 14 year civil war.
This is potentially great news for Liberia. In particular, diamond revenues could be used to fund much-needed...
While most of us were taking a holiday yesterday, Molly Kinder, who previously worked as a program coordinator at CGD on Millions Saved, and is now a graduate student at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, sent the following reflections on Presidents' Day.
Yesterday the United States celebrated Presidents' Day, a holiday which rarely gives reason to pause, beyond perhaps the gratitude for a long weekend. This year, however, I did a double take. The image that Presidents' Day has long evoked in my head -- George Washington, Abe Lincoln, Ronald Reagan -- has recently undergone a makeover and now has a striking new feature: her gender.
The evidence is everywhere. Harvard's campus is currently abuzz over the recent appointment of the university's first ever female...
from The International Herald Tribune The Associated PressWASHINGTONLiberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Monday hailed the gains her year-old government has achieved but warned that the country's recovery is fragile and needs continued outside help."Slowly but steadily we are making out way back. We know we can create a new peaceful, open and prosperous Liberia," she said in a speech at the outset of an official visit here.But she expressed concern that international attention on Liberia may be flagging. Assistance for her country should be accelerated not leveled off, she said.Johnson Sirleaf spoke to a crowd of 200, an event organized by the Center for Global Development, an independent think tank that works to reduce global poverty and inequality.She is Africa's first female...
I'm here in Liberia observing a post-conflict situation through a development lens. I'm struck by several aspects of the complex task of rebuilding after 14 years of civil war.
First, the trauma brought a more complete collapse than the notion of a "war" between two parties suggests. Unlike in the sectarian conflict of the kind suffered in former Yugoslavia and feared in Iraq - where the lines seem clearly drawn across a few ethnic groups -- Liberian civilians -- all of them but especially women and children -- were vulnerable for years to rounds of marauding, looting, pillage and rape. See CGD non-resident fellow Jeremy Weinstein's recent book, Inside Rebellion: The Politics of Insurgent Violence, to understand how different initial conditions generate different levels of...
from The Independent On LineFor a democratically elected leader, Liberia's President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf's daily commute to work borders on the unusual.First come the armed outriders who order cars to pull over into the gutters. Then comes a blare of sirens as the president's convoy, complete with decoy limousine, barrels down the once-grand Tubman Boulevard. Nigerian United Nations soldiers armed with heavy machine-guns take up the rear: the international community is taking no chances with Liberia's best hope of democratic leadership in decades.When a fire gutted the executive mansion on Liberia's independence day in July, almost claiming the lives of four west African presidents (including Liberia's), everyone suspected a plot. Rebels loyal to the former leader, Charles Taylor, by...
from All AfricaThe Analyst (Monrovia)Grand Kru Representative Gbenimah Slopadoe says Liberians need not to play any magic to reduce the level of poverty in the country without first demonstrating what he called absolute nationalism and empowering the agriculture sector.In order to achieve, he proposed the establishment of an "Agriculture for Food and Employment Fund." which according to him could provide soft loans to farmers.According to him, this is intended to increase production of traditional and non-traditional crops intended to provide food security, generate income and create employment.In a statement at a 2-day capacity building Workshop for GCAP-LINC members at the St. Teresa Pastoral Retreat Center over the weekend, Rep. Slopadoe said show of nationalism will also have impact...
Today is a great day for the new government and the people of Liberia. For the first time in 15 years, parts of Monrovia have running water and functioning electricity. This may not seem like a lot, but it is HUGE for people that have seen nothing but war, destruction, and theft for so many years. I have recently returned from Liberia, my fifth trip since the election of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and while the new government is facing huge odds, they are making steady, significant progress. Budget revenues are up, misappropriation of funds is down, roads are being repaired, stores are reopening, and people are repairing and repainting their houses. The challenges are huge and the odds are long, but this government is making some initial small steps forward, and you know...