ANNEX 1

Introduction to Liberia and CARE Liberia

BACKGROUND OF LIBERIA

Situated on the west coast of Africa with an area of 43,000 square miles; coastal area of 350 miles; bordering Liberia are Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north, Ivory Coast on the east and the Atlantic ocean on the south

BACKGROUND OF LIBERIA

Founded in 1822 by repatriated slaves from America

Coup d’etat of Samuel Doe: 1980 Civil war from 1989 to 2003 15 political sub divisions - Counties headed

by superintendents 16 local languages/tribes. Population - 3.5 million (51% of women)

Human Development Report 2009

Liberia’s human development index 2007 Ranks 169 on HDI 2007 (higher than Guinea, Burkina,

Mali, Sierra Leone and Niger)

Life expectancy at birth =57.9 years

Adult literacy rate (15yrs and above) is 55.5%

Combined gross enrolment ratio is 57.6%

GDP per capita is US$362

Access to clean water = 64%

Children underweight for age (<5yrs) is 26%

BACKGROUND OF CARE LIBERIA

CARE Liberia began operations in September 2008

Launched Food and Income security Program in February 2009.

The Program involves a long term commitment to specific marginalized and vulnerable groups to achieve lasting impact on a broad scale to address underlying causes of poverty and social injustice.

BACKGROUND OF CARE LIBERIA

CO portfolio is $4M; Grant from Howard G. Buffett Foundation and the European Commission.

35 staff (20% female) in two offices (Monrovia and Gbarnga).

Key ministries that CARE Liberia collaborate with are MOA and MPW

We work with four local partners and one Government partner (CARI) through sub granting

Pillar of PRS (2008 – 2011)

Pillar I: Security

Pillar II: Economic Revitalization

Pillar III: Governance and Rule of Law

Pillar IV: Infrastructure and Basic Services

Formulation of CARE Liberia Food and Income Security Program

Meetings with CARE staffs, partners including government counterpart

Reflection on what Liberia looked like years back

Poverty analysis

What should look like

Underlying Causes of Poverty  Social Positions Human Conditions Enabling Environment

Intermediate

Barter system Loss of people/orphans Broken down institutions (management, governance and physical)

Lack of social support systems

Loss of assets/lack of access to assets

Lack of technology systems

  Lack of services and lack of access to services

Lack of infrastructure - roads, electricity

  Lack of awareness and capacity

Lack of social support systems

  Unemployment Lack of market systems

  Lack of markets  

Underlying

Cultural norms and expectations

Conflict

Discrimination Poor Governance

Gender inequality   Corruption

Social Norms    

Break down of social tissue

  Mismanagement of natural resources - mining industry

Hatred, fear, mistrust, low self esteem

   

OUR DREAMSWe live in a country where there is:

Free education for all; Food security Health for all Easy access by roads and transport Majority of the population employed Justice Transparency, accountability & good

governance Zero corruption Gender equity, respect for one another,

tolerance, trust and peace.

Threats to our dream Climate change Corruption War and insecurity that relates to

potential for political tension during elections or a coup d’etat or tension in neighboring countries.

Poor quality education Disease (HIV/AIDS, cholera, flu strains)

Opportunities

Huge donor interest (USAID, EC, UNs, WB, AfDB, etc.)

Growing democratic system - Female leadership!

Abundant Natural Resources (rubber, timber, minerals, water, fisheries, crude oil, rainfall etc.)

Remittances - Diaspora ($65M, skills, investments)

THANKS!THANKS!