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Viewing cable 07MONROVIA1424, LIBERIA: GOL CONSULTS CITIZENS ON POVERTY

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07MONROVIA1424 2007-12-20 15:26 2011-08-30 01:44 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Monrovia
VZCZCXRO6780
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHMV #1424/01 3541526
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 201526Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9591
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1549
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 
 
MONROVIA 00001424  002 OF 003 
 
 
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 
 
MONROVIA 00001424  003 OF 003 
 
 
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