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FY 1997 Development Fund for Africa: $7,500,000
FY 1997 P.L. 480 Title II: $44,496,000
Introduction.
Liberia is currently emerging from six years of a grisly civil war that devastated the country and caused an estimated 150,000 deaths. The war also resulted in the virtual total destruction of much of the nation's infrastructure, including schools, clinics, and even private dwellings. The human suffering resulting from the conflict has been enormous. An estimated 150,000 people, most of them civilians have been killed or maimed as a result of the six year civil war. Approximately 740,000 Liberians remain refugees in neighboring countries, and an estimated 1.2 million are displaced within the country or have fled to the United States. Since 1990, U.S. assistance, totaling over $381 million through FY 1995, has centered on emergency relief efforts. Under the general coordination of United Nations (UN) agencies, USAID has concentrated on the needs of the displaced population and vulnerable groups.
Liberia has enjoyed a special relationship with the United States since it was founded by freed slaves 149 years ago. The United States has been the major provider of humanitarian relief for Liberians since the civil conflict began in 1989. Should the war continue, further de-stabilization in Liberia would occur, as well as in West Africa at large. If this continues, the United States will be called upon to continue to provide assistance to the millions of innocent victims of the war. It is in the U.S national interest to help restore democracy to Liberia in order for it to become economically viable, and reduce the need for humanitarian assistance.
The Development Challenge.
The civil war that has wrecked this coastal state of West Africa for much of this decade is slowly coming to an end. However, the damage done to the country has been staggering. Liberia's prewar population numbered about 2.5 million people. Almost three-quarters of a million of them are now living as refugees, mostly in neighboring countries. At least one million more are internally displaced persons, many of whom have had to move several times, fleeing the fighting or the deprivation resulting from it. The war also has laid waste to Liberia's economy. Only petty commerce and the non-formal sector show any signs of vibrancy. Food production is down by 80% from pre-war levels. The country's rich natural resource endowment, including forests thick with valuable species, rubber, deposits of precious metals and minerals, plentiful rainfall, and rich topsoil, has fared better during the crisis, although the warring factions have exploited those natural resources in their territories, often profligately. Before the war, however, Liberia had shown real sustainable development promise, and with peace near, could become one of Africa's better performing developing states.
After six years of war, a new peace agreement was signed on August 19, 1995, by leaders of the three main warring factions and the Liberian National Transitional Government (LNTG). Under the Abuja Accord, the 13th such agreement, a new transitional government (LNTG II) and a Council of State, which includes the three main faction leaders plus three civilian representatives, were installed in September 1995 and a timetable for carrying out disarmament, demobilization and election was established. Recent events in Liberia point out the fragileness of the process and the fact that some faction leaders have not fully committed themselves to peace. In a bold effort to restore peace, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) peacekeeping group (ECOMOG) redeployed throughout Monrovia to disarm fighters and restore calm in the city. The U.S. is encouraged by these developments and continues to urge all factions to implement recommendations made by the ECOWAS Council of Ministers at the May 8 Summit in Accra, Ghana. These include: an immediate ceasefire, withdrawal of all fighters and weapons from Monrovia, and the return of Monrovia as a safehaven for the civilian population. The United States strongly condemned the recent factional fighting in Monrovia, which threatened to unravel the Abuja Peace Accord.
Liberia has been in continuous arrears to the International Monetary Fund since December 1984. The country was declared ineligible to use the general resources of the Fund and its right to use Special Drawing Rates (SDRs) was suspended on January 24, 1986. Liberia's arrears to the Fund as of February 1996 were $239.7 million and $13.3 million to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Development Association, respectively. Its combined arrears to three institutions under the African Development Bank were $140.7 million as of December 31, 1994. Because Liberia's debt problems are many and complex, the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have carried out a number of assessments to determine how to assist the country. In the interim, the UNDP is providing $5 million to help restart Liberia's economy and to attract other investors.
Other Donors.
The only other major donor active in Liberia is the European Union (EU), which has a coordination office in Monrovia and an assistance program for the country totalling about $26,000,000 in FY 1996. USAID and the EU are working hand-in-hand in country, particularly on resettlement and reintegration programs but also in humanitarian assistance efforts. Other donors include the British who will provide communications equipment for use during disarmament; the French pledged approximately $3 million to help establish a community/demobilization center; the Japanese plan to provide approximately $7 million in food assistance; and the Canadians pledged approximately $14 million for humanitarian assistance and food aid.
FY 1997 Program.
The current USAID program came into being as a response to the emergency conditions of the civil war. The goal of U.S. policy and assistance to Liberia has been to seek a return to peace and the installation of a democratic form of government, while simultaneously providing relief for the victims of the civil war. USAID is developing a two-year post-crisis transition strategy, to be implemented in FYs 1997-98. Plans are to build on the partnership that has already been established with the international and local private and nongovernment organizations already working in Liberia. In order to consolidate the transition from emergency to recovery, USAID will implement reintegration/recovery and democratization programs.
USAID's proposed strategy for helping Liberia make a successful transition from post-war crisis and disaster relief to socio-economic recovery and sustainable development concentrates on reintegrating communities through reviving productive sector activities, particularly in agriculture, and fostering democratic processes at both the national and local levels. In the short run, demilitarizing the country and restoring stability will promote U.S. humanitarian and related interests of resolving the conflict, reduce human suffering and help get the country back on its feet. In the longer run, peace and recovery will reduce Liberia's destablizing influence on the region and put the country on a sustainable development path.
Agency Goal: Building Democracy
Since FY 1992, the Carter Center of Emory University has implemented activities dealing with civic, human and women's rights issues, peace building, and conflict resolution. In Fy 1994, a grant was provided to the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) to assist Liberia prepare for national elections. The Elections Assistance project was put on hold, however, shortly after the grant was awarded because the civil war resumed. Over the life of the grant, the Carter Center has carried out a number of democratization activities which include: (a) the establishment of the Liberian Network for Peace and Development (LNPD), comprised of indigenous nongovernmental organizations working to revitalize civil society at the grassroots level; (b) the promotion of conflict resolution, mediation, and reconciliation, primarily through Liberian nongovernmental organizations, and (c) support to the Election Commission, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Observer Mission inLiberia, the International Foundation for Elections Systems, and others working on preparations for a national election. The proposed program aims to consolidate the achievements made to date by the Carter Center grant in these areas and to introduce media campaigns in support of reconciliation, human rights, democracy, and post-election democratic consolidation. The Foundation will establish an office in Liberia in late 1996 to assist the Liberia Elections Commission to prepare for national elections.
Agency Goal: Providing Humanitarian Assistance
USAID has developed a strategy for establishing a community-based reintegration program which is a crucial step in Liberia's transition from civil war to peace and recovery, using funding from a variety of accounts, including those managed by USAID's Office of Food for Peace, Office of Disaster Assistance, Office of Transition Initiatives, the Global Bureau, and the Africa Bureau. The program provides grants to international nongovernmental organizations and United Nations agencies to establish eight area reintegration and development centers (ARDCs) to facilitate community revitalization and reassimilation, primarily through implementing projects based on local initiatives. In the process, the ARDCs will promote the establishment of decentralized local administrative structures that accommodate community participation and self-reliance. Another component of the reintegration program is vocational training for ex-combatants, returning refugees and those displaced in country. The strategic objective of using humanitarian assistance and other funds to support the transition from relief to recovery in Liberia also is supported by community reintegration projects designed to provide trauma counseling and nonformal education training for child soldiers, orphans and other children severely affected by the crisis. Finally, this objective is pursued through disaster relief grants and a P.L. 480 Title II program in which Catholic Relief Services, which is the cooperating sponsor, provides targeted food aid for distribution at the community reintegration centers. The reintegration program will provide continuing support for the key components of the community demobilization program through a private voluntary organization umbrella grant.
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Encouraging Broad-based Economic Growth |
Stabilizing Population Growth and Protecting Human Health |
Protecting the Environment |
Building |
Providing Humanitarian Assistance |
TOTALS |
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USAID Strategic Objectives |
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1. Successful Democratic Transition Including Free and Fair National Elections - Dev. Fund for Africa |
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4,000,000 |
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4,000,000 |
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2. Successful Transition from Relief to Recovery through a Community Reintegration Program -Dev. Fund for Africa - PL 480 Title II |
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3,500,000 |
3,500,000 |
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Totals - Dev. Fund for Africa - PL 480 Title II |
4,000,000 |
3,500,000 44,496,000 |
7,500,000 44,496,000 |
USAID Representative: Lowell E. Lynch
PROGRAM: LIBERIA
TITLE AND NUMBER: Democratic Transition Support, 669-S001
STATUS: New
PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: FY 1997: $4,000,000 DFA
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1997; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 1998
Purpose: To enable a successful democratic transition in post-crisis Liberia, including post-election consolidation of democratization gains.
Background: The Liberian civil war, even with all its horrors, offers an opportunity to carry out a political reconstruction process based on the establishment of democracy and good governance. The faction leaders have agreed that a democratic national election is to be an integral part of the transition from civil crisis to recovery. The power-sharing governance arrangements incorporated in the two Liberian National Transitional Governments, while clearly far from perfect, have at least raised questions about the country's pre-war political processes and systems. The war also has exacerbated existing political problems and created new ones, however. Establishing real democracy and good governance will be a major challenge. In the crisis to date, USAID/Liberia has provided democratization through grants to the Carter Center of Emory University and the International Foundation for Election Systems.
USAID Role and Achievements to Date: USAID's support includes rebuilding civil society, promoting conflict resolution, mediation, and reconciliation, conducting media campaigns on democracy and human rights, and providing support for elections. The Carter Center grant has made several important contributions to the search for peace and to the beginnings of a democratic transition in Liberia: Senior officials at the Carter Center have participated in several negotiating conferences and other aspects of the peace process. the Carter Center was instrumental in the creation of the Liberian Network for Peace and Development, a consortium of 20 Liberian nongovernmental organizations collaborating on specific projects to encourage demilitarization, reintegration of soldiers into civil society, trauma counseling, and reconciliation. the Carter Center underwrote the attendance of the Liberian Interfaith Mediation Committee at the peace talks in Cotonou, Benin, in July 1993. Six Liberian NGO representatives were sponsored to attend a training and workshop program in Atlanta in October 1993. A peace-building workshop was conducted in Akosombo, Ghana, that led to the creation of the Liberian Initiative for Peace-Building and Conflict Resolution, a Liberian group composed of civic leaders and key players from the major warring factions. The group played an active role in organizing the 1994 Liberian National Conference, and facilitating development of community policing in 1995. The Carter Center organized a mission in July 1994, led by Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, to encourage Liberian leaders to redouble their efforts in the peace process. In addition, former President Carter has effectively intervened at various levels to promote the peace process. IFES will provide technical assistance to the Election Commission in preparations for a national election as stipulated by the Abuja peace agreement.
Description: The eventual holding of free and fair elections is the most critical political benchmark that will help determine the transition of Liberia away from its long civil crisis to a national society with a legitimate order.
Following national elections, USAID will focus on four areas: conflict resolution, mediation and reconciliation; human rights; and post-election democratic consolidation. Funding is to be channeled through U.S. nongovernmental organizations. Activities will include: (a) seminars and workshops to continue pre-electoral efforts to build a vigorous civil society; (b) technical assistance to Liberian civic organizations that play a continuing role in overseeing the work of governmental institutions and in improving aspects of the new democracy such as the electoral system; and (c) sponsoring meetings of international investors and development agencies to generate interest in and support for Liberia's economic recovery program.
By strengthening local NGOs and mobilizing them in various Liberian communities, citizen activism and self-governance in civil society will be enhanced. The expected result is an increase in social capital of local government structures, and an enhancement of their legitimacy.
Host Country and Other Donors: The United Nations Development Programme is planning to provide funding and technical assistance for the national election and may also contribute to post-election democracy and governance activities. The only other major donor in country is the European Union, which is planning to provide funding for the elections. O ther donors, including the Danish and Canadians, have been approached and are considering providing funds for the elections. The Liberians will pay the salaries of the Elections Commission staff and provide some technical assistance.
Beneficiaries: Local NGOs and other organizations constituting civil society will be the main direct beneficiaries. The ultimate beneficiaries will be the people of Liberia.
Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: USAID will implement these activities through several U.S. private and nongovernmental organizations, including the Carter Center, the International Foundation for Elections Systems, the National Democratic Institute, the African American Institute, and the Friends of Liberia.
Major Results Indicators:
Baseline 1 Targets 1
To be established TBD TBD
____________________
1 To be determined.
PROGRAM: LIBERIA
TITLE AND NUMBER: Community Reintegration Assistance, 669-S002
STATUS: New
PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: FY 1997: $3,500,000 DFA, $44,96,000 P.L. 480 Title II
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1997; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 1998
Purpose: To enable a successful transition from relief to recovery in post-crisis Liberia by supporting resettlement and reintegration of internally displaced persons, ex-combatants and refugee-returnees into their home communities upcountry.
Background: Thousands of Liberians have been dislocated and most of the country outside the capital city of Monrovia was devastated by the six-year civil war. The humanitarian assistance during the crisis has been intended to reduce the dislocation and other suffering resulting from the conflict. Now that a peace process is under way, the focus of our assistance needs to shift to aiding the transition to rehabilitation, recovery and, ultimately, sustainable development. Pre-war Liberia was essentially an agrarian society and economy. Rural resettlement and reintegration, primarily through investments in community-based, productive-sector micro-projects up-country, are crucial to peace, stability, and recovery. Support for the resettlement and reintegration effort will be the main thrust of USAID programs for FY 1997 and the medium term thereafter.
USAID Role and Achievements to Date: Under the community-based resettlement and reintegration program, four international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and one United Nations agency are to establish eight area reintegration and development centers (ARDCs) upcountry to facilitate community revitalization and reassimilation, primarily through the implementation of "micro-projects" based on local initiative. The USAID/Liberia portfolio includes other programs that complement the ARDC program. Those programs include war victims and vocational training projects, food aid, and disaster relief grants for emergency health care, water, sanitation, and seeds and tools distribution.
Description: In FY 1997, USAID will concentrate on the resettlement and reintegration effort. That effort will include a national micro-projects program to fund small-scale, labor-intensive, capital-saving projects that are identified, designed and implemented by communities upcountry. The micro-projects will include clearing of farm-to-market roads, establishment or rehabilitation of marketplaces, building or repair of schools, and refurbishing of health clinics. The reintegration portfolio also will include a continuation of support for war victims, including child soldiers and those crippled during the war or who have polio which is implemented by the United Nations Children Fund through Liberian nongovernmental organizations. These programs target youth ages 8-17 and include trauma counselling, nonformal education, and family tracing; the vocational training program includes family tracing and trauma counseling, targets youth ages 18-24, and is implemented by the Opportunities Industrialization Centers (OIC). An evaluation of the war victims projects will be carried out in mid-FY 1996 to identify areas in which the program can be expanded. USAID will continue to help revive agricultural production through provision of seeds, fertilizer, tools, and technical assistance. Current seeds and tools activities are implemented by the Catholic Relief Service, Africare, and Lutheran Wold Service. USAID will continue to channel assistance through international nongovernmental organizations and United Nations agencies.
Host Country and Other Donors: The European Union is a full partner in the resettlement and reintegration program, serving as the sponsor of four of the 12 area centers. In addition, the French, Japanese, and Canadians have pledged to assist with reintegration. The United Nations Development Program also is planning to provide funding for the national micro-projects program and to other components of the reintegration program.
Beneficiaries: Communities, local NGOs, and other organizations constituting civil society up-country will be the main direct beneficiaries. The ultimate beneficiaries will be the demobilized ex-combatants, the resettled internally displace persons, and the repatriated refugee-returnees.
Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: USAID will implement these activities through grants to several U.S. and other expatriate NGOs, international organizations, and UN agencies, including such organization as the Catholic Relief Service, Lutheran World Service, Africare, Opportunities Industrialization Centers International, the United Nation Childrens Fund, Save the Children, and World Vision.
Major Results Indicators:
Baseline 1 Targets 1
To be established. TBD TBD
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1 To be determined.