LIBERIA: GOL CONSULTS CITIZENS ON POVERTY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MONROVIA 001424

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PRGOV PREL EAID EFIN ECON LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: GOL CONSULTS CITIZENS ON POVERTY
REDUCTION STRATEGY


1. (U) SUMMARY. Liberians want roads, healthcare, and
education, and they still don't feel secure. The GOL held
two-day consultations with stakeholders in each of Liberia's
15 counties as part of the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS)
process. For the first time, Liberians nationwide had a
chance to contribute to the national development strategy.
Embassy staff, including USAID, observed consultations in
five counties, and it is clear the GOL's goals reflect
Liberians' priorities. Now it must deliver. Although the
process was not perfect (it was very much top-down, guided
from Monrovia),these PRS consultations were a milestone in
Liberia's recovery from conflict to participatory democracy.
The GOL plans to post the full report on the county
consultations on the Executive Mansion's website
(http://www.emansion.gov/lr). END SUMMARY.

THE COUNTY CONSULTATION PROCESS
--------------


2. (U) The GOL is developing a Poverty Reduction Strategy as
part of its HIPC debt relief effort. GOL ministries, led by
President Sirleaf and joined by donors and civil society,
have focused on four "pillars": Security; Economic
Revitalization; Governance-Rule of Law; and
Infrastructure-Basic Services. In preparation for the
consultations in each county, which took place between
October and December, each pillar coordinated questions to be
asked at each consultation. The results, supported by the
census that started December 17, will inform the GOL's
priorities for poverty reduction. Embassy staff, including
USAID, attended consultations in five of the 15 counties:
Grand Cape Mount on the Sierra Leone border, Sinoe, Grand Kru
and Maryland near Cote d'Ivoire, and Montserrado County,
which includes Monrovia. We also exchanged views with
participants and other partners, particularly the UN.


3. (U) These first-ever national consultations presented a
logistical challenge. Transportation is extremely difficult,
with some counties unreachable by road. There is no national
phone system. Most Liberians are illiterate. However, with
strong logistical support from UNMIL, the GOL sent top
officials, with representatives from each pillar, to meet
with 100 invited participants in each county. Participants,
who included local elected officials, traditional leaders,
and representatives of local NGOs, met the first day to set
county priorities, then shared those views with the GOL
representatives the second day. Participants were divided
into separate groups of men, women, youth and elders, which
was found to facilitate the most open discussion. Each
pillar facilitator met in sequence with each demographic
group, with results reported at a final plenary session. The
call for roads, healthcare and education was consistent
nationwide.

THE PROS OUTWEIGHED THE CONS
--------------


4. (U) The consultations led to discussions of topics that
are rarely addressed in public forums: how to re-integrate
ex-combatants; who has access to land; do you trust the
security forces; which roads would make the most difference;
why aren't children in school? The initiative provided a
showcase for new GOL initiatives (local consultations before
granting mining concessions),educated the public (there's a
new anti-rape law; children should be in school),and raised
expectations. The GOL can now be held accountable. The
government also has more credibility in setting policy, as it
can refer to public demand.


5. (SBU) However, despite improvements as the consultations
proceeded, the process was not perfect. Perhaps by
necessity, the process was top-down. Participants, who
included elected officials, traditional leaders and NGO
representatives, were for the most part selected and invited
by the national government, in an effort to ensure a broad
representation and diversity. The pillar facilitators were
of uneven quality, with some asking leading questions or
lecturing. Given the liveliness of many of the discussions
and poor acoustics of some venues, it is unlikely note takers
were able to capture every nuance.

PILLAR-SPECIFIC POINTS
--------------


6. (U) On the first day, the groups worked together to
develop a County Vision Statement using the SWOT (Strengths,
Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) process. On the
second day, they discussed the four pillars of Liberia's PRS
-- Security, Economic Revitalization, Governance-Rule of Law,
and Infrastructure and Basic Services -- and determined the

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priority needs of their county development strategy with
respect to each pillar. It was clear that Liberians need
more and better roads, security, education, and healthcare.

SECURITY PILLAR
--------------


7. (U) It is clear that security gaps remain of deep concern
to Liberians, and that weaknesses in the rule of law sector
are increasingly recognized as core problems for local and
national security. Many counties identified the inadequate
number of police officers, the lack of police resources, and
corruption as the biggest obstacles to security. Citizens
suggested the GOL deploy and train more police officers --
especially women -- in rural areas, with more emphasis on
human rights and public relations training. Other
suggestions included:
-- strengthen the judicial system;
-- ensure the Armed Forces of Liberia includes all tribes;
(Note: The AFL is very representative of the ethnic make up
of the country. End note.)
-- build more corrections/detention facilities, especially
for juveniles;
-- provide more training to reintegrate ex-combatants; and
-- improve control of the land borders.

ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION PILLAR
--------------


8. (U) Liberians recognize their country's tremendous
economic potential, especially in agriculture, mining,
fisheries, and eventually tourism, but illiteracy, illness,
and poor security, and infrastructure remain constraints.
Lack of roads was consistently identified as the primary
obstacle to economic growth, though other challenges are also
problematic. Uncertain land tenure hinders agriculture,
mining, and access to credit. Lack of security and the
absence of financial institutions make access to and
transport of cash difficult and sometimes dangerous. Most
counties do not have a bank, a post office, electricity, or
phone communication outside the county capital.

GOVERNANCE AND RULE OF LAW PILLAR
--------------


9. (U) The judicial system was universally considered
dysfunctional, leading people to resort to traditional
justice such as trial-by-ordeal and mob violence, and
undermining the ability to achieve lasting security. There
are too few judges or competent lawyers, and the system is
slow and corrupt. Defendants routinely spend more time in
prison awaiting trial then they would if they were tried,
convicted, and served their sentence. Government officials
at all levels are corrupt and are not held accountable. Some
counties also called for the immediate election of officials
such as county superintendents (the highest government
official in the county),who are now appointed by the
President. Counties also hope decentralization will give
them more control over fiscal resources.

INFRASTRUCTURE AND BASIC SERVICES PILLAR
--------------


10. (U) Roads and bridges are the most pressing
infrastructure priority. Virtually all counties cited a lack
of trained teachers, especially female teachers. Communities
need more schools, and more adult education programs. Health
clinics do not have resident doctors or other trained health
professionals. (Note: There are an estimated 150 doctors in
Liberia, half of them foreign. About a third of the Liberian
doctors are teaching, retired, or otherwise not practicing
medicine. End note.) Often patients do not survive long
trips to seek health care. The lack of sanitation and access
to safe drinking water was a serious concern. In some
counties, there is no electricity or telephone networks and
residents requested GOL assistance in getting cell phone
coverage.


11. (SBU) COMMENT. Although the consultations were not
perfect, the GOL deserves praise for taking a strong step
towards participatory democracy. For the first time in
Liberia's history, ordinary Liberians throughout the country
were able to engage their leaders; and it appeared the
leaders were listening. By sending high-ranking officials,
including cabinet ministers, to talk to citizens, solicit
their views, and describe the government's goals, the Sirleaf
Administration has given notice that citizens have a voice,
and a responsibility to hold their government accountable.
Despite the shortcomings, the PRS consultations engaged a
wide swath of Liberian society in serious discussion of the

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future of their country. The message was clear: the GOL has
accurately captured the major national priorities, but there
is regional variation that must be considered.
Booth