Liberia

KEY FACTS

• Population: 3.4 million

• GDP per capita: US$ 130

• Population below poverty line: 80%

• Labour force by occupation: agriculture 70%, industry 8%, services 16%

• Total land area: 96 320 sq km, bordering Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea and Sierra Leone

• Total arable land: 4%

• Life expectancy: male: 47 years; female: 49 years

• Literacy rate: male: 73.3%; female: 41.6%

• Human Development Index: N/D

(Source: World Bank; CIA Factbook)

FAO IN LIBERIA

In 2005, FAO supported the resettlement of IDPs and returnees, together with the reintegration of ex-combatants, through the provision of certified seeds, implements and training, as well as extension services. Recovery programmes in the agricultural sector continue to be well coordinated by FAO. FAO and WFP continue to work together in Liberia. For example, WFP has been issuing food commodities to prevent farmers from consuming the seeds provided by FAO. In addition, those farmers who were engaged in rice and or cassava production have been receiving WFP food assistance.

Background

Liberia is one of the poorest countries in the world. More than 90 per cent of the population survives on less than US$ 2 per day. The collapse of the economy has led to unemployment rates estimated to be as high as 85 percent.

Liberia’s recent history of political chaos and civil strife is well documented. Since the military coup in 1980, the country has experienced political, economic, and social disruption. The lack of sound governance, and the consequent insecurity and poverty, remains the main challenge faced by people in Liberia, with persistent abuses of human rights, displacement, disruption and delay to the re-establishment of civil, social, and economic structures.

After 14 years of internal conflict, warring factions signed a peace accord in 2003. The subsequent installation of a transitional government, the establishment of a United Nations mission in Liberia and the deployment of peacekeeping forces now provide basic security and an environment enabling humanitarian action.

The successful return and reintegration of refugees and IDPs, as well as the reintegration of ex-combatants, is a priority. Linked to this is the revitalization of communities by providing opportunities for self-sufficiency through income-generation and building capacity for livelihoods and agricultural production.

Today, Liberia stands on the brink of transformation into a fledgling democracy after fourteen years of one of the most brutal civil conflicts of the last decades, costing 250 000 lives, devastating social and cultural life, and all but destroying the countries infrastructure and economy. Therefore, 2006 will not only be a challenge for the newly elected Government of Liberia to deliver on its promises, but it will also be a challenge to the international community at large to ensure that it provides the support necessary for this transformation to be successful.

Needs analysis: Food security and agriculture sectors

Liberia remains among the most food insecure countries in the world. The poor are primarily found to be in rural areas, lack basic services and adequate shelter, and survive by subsistence farming. The majority of farmers are women who have had few opportunities to develop more advanced farming mechanisms, and thus will remain below the national poverty line without targeted assistance.

A number of factors contribute to food insecurity in Liberia, among them a continued disruption of agricultural systems due to the displacement of farming communities, absence of effective market mechanisms, lack of economic opportunities and the breakdown of family and community coping mechanisms. Food production continues to be very limited, with a high dependency on food purchases and external relief sources. A recent vulnerability survey found that more than 70 percent of the surveyed households had unsatisfactory food consumption levels.

The priority needs of the agricultural sector in 2006 include inputs such as seeds, tools and agrochemicals combined with strengthening of extension services and training. Such assistance is crucial to support rice production, the country’s staple food. Increased support to facilitate rehabilitation of the sub sectors of fisheries, livestock including re-stocking of small ruminants and poultry is also a priority. The same level of support is also required for crops other than rice including vegetables, tuber and root crops. The need for capacity building and strengthening of local NGOs and community-based organizations (CBOs) in rural areas including farmers unions, cooperatives and women’s organizations, will continue to exist.

The failure to achieve an increase in agricultural activities and enhancement of productive capacities will result in continued food shortages, malnutrition, and increased destabilization in affected communities. These implications together will eventually represent a threat to the peace process. Achieving food security in Liberia is a long term goal that, given the arable land and the available labour, is certainly attainable.

PROPOSALS

FAO RELIEF AND REHABILITATION ASSISTANCE
Funding required: US$ 7 831 000

Issues addressed: Rice is the main staple food of Liberia. In order to address the prevalent food crisis, rice production must be improved and strengthened as soon as possible.

Objectives: To quickly stimulate an increased production and supply of rice and vegetables to raise the nutritional level of war affected men, women and children.

Activities: Provide seeds, tools and related equipment and training. Demonstrations and farmer-to-farmer extension to increase rice and vegetable production. Establishment of "Model Swamps" providing training for improved swamp management in all districts. Establishing swamp development units to be operational in each district. Support the re-establishment of a Ministry of Agriculture soil and water management department.

Beneficiaries: 6 400 farmers (of which 3 000 women) and concerned implementing authorities.

Implementing partners: Ministry of Agriculture, international and local NGOs.

Duration: January 2006 - December 2007.

Funds requested: US$ 400 000 for 2006 (Total budget: US$ 700 000).

Issues addressed: All victims of the conflict - returnees, ex-combatants and the farmers who stayed in the affected areas - need assistance to resume their livelihoods.

Objectives: Assist war-affected people in nine counties to engage in livelihood activities.

Activities: Provision of quality seeds (rice and vegetables) suitable to local conditions and related agricultural tools. Training on improved methods to refresh farmers’ memories on agricultural practices and on new technical knowledge to enhance production.

Beneficiaries: 20 000 vulnerable farmers and ex-combatants.

Implementing partners: Ministry of Agriculture, international and local NGOs.

Duration: January 2006 - December 2006.

Funds requested: US$2 500 000.

Issues addressed: If properly managed and practiced, aquaculture contributes immensely to the immediate needs of protein rich food, vitamins, minerals and fatty acids. Fish farming offers multiple side-activities and job opportunities, notably for women.

Objectives: To initiate the process of rehabilitation of aquaculture sub-sector, training of beneficiaries, increased productivity, additional sources of protein-rich food and reintegration of returnees and ex-combatants.

Activities: Identify and locate existing hatcheries and ponds. Select sites for the construction of new hatcheries. Rehabilitate and stock hatcheries in the identified sites. Train beneficiaries in fish raising as well as in the construction and maintenance of ponds.

Beneficiaries: 1 200 farmers (of which 800 will be women).

Implementing partners: Ministry of Agriculture, international and local NGOs.

Duration: January 2006 - December 2006.

Funds requested: US$ 600 000.

Issues addressed: War affected households have to strengthen their resilience, earnings and livelihood capacity in mid- to longer-term. Returnees need to re-establish their agricultural activities.

Objectives: To provide basic production inputs (seed and tools) as well as training in improved farming practices (agronomy, seeds processing and post-harvest technology).

Activities: The provision of quality seeds (rice and vegetables) suitable to local conditions. The activities will emphasize the reactivation of farming activities for increased production of food crops.

Beneficiaries: 5 000 war affected, vulnerable farmers (of which 3 500 will be women) living in urban and peri-urban centres.

Implementing partners: Ministry of Agriculture, international and local NGOs.

Duration: January 2006 - December 2006.

Funds requested: US$ 865 000.

Issues addressed: Due to considerable degeneration of the genetic base much of the cassava crop has been heavily infested with mosaic virus, severely reducing much needed yields. Cassava and sweet potato play a very important role in the diet.

Objectives: Improve food security of rural households by disseminating quality vegetative materials of cassava and sweet potatoes.

Activities: Identification of zones suitable for the initiative. Acquisition and dissemination of vegetative material and fertilizers. Determination of appropriate pest management options. Ensure training and information for the beneficiaries and follow-up the redistribution of multiplied plant material in the communities and among other eventual beneficiaries.

Beneficiaries: 150 villages in 10 counties. Furthermore, 15 poles of rapid multiplication for cassava and sweet potato are planned for each of the ten counties covered by the project.

Implementing partners: Ministry of Agriculture, international and local NGOs.

Duration: February 2006 - February 2007.

Funds requested: US$ 800 000.

Issues addressed: Development efforts have to be continuously supported by a comprehensive coordination and monitoring system, regulating the food security sector and providing reliable statistics and relevant information necessary for planning.

Objectives: Maintaining the continuity and further upgrading of the existing coordination mechanisms and information management systems that have been established to support the coordination of food security interventions.

Activities: Coordination of meetings at national and county levels. Collection, processing and analysis of data on emergency agricultural activities, as well as the incorporation of food aid data. Production and dissemination of reports and maps. Regular nationwide assessment and monitoring missions. Training and capacity building for local NGOs.

Beneficiaries: All stakeholders concerned with food security (NGOs, UN agencies, Donors and Government Line Ministries).

Implementing partners: Ministry of Agriculture.

Duration: January 2006 - December 2006.

Funds requested: US$ 360 000.

Issues addressed: The proposed programme would fill an urgent gap in building field level capacity to train and organize communities around food production and provide essential farming inputs in a post-war situation.

Objectives: To create a supporting network of community organizations for an accelerated and efficient rehabilitation of the agriculture sector.

Activities: A preparatory stage to raise awareness among stakeholders, launch initial capacity building activities including development of training curricula, a three month training programme for agricultural coordinators/master trainers in the 15 counties and 73 districts and provision of essential logistic support. A consolidation stage to build community-based extension capacity in all 73 districts with training in each district of ten trainers selected from government field extension workers and civil society organizations as well as promotion of community-based farmer network development for marketing, information sharing and advocacy for farmers’ interests. A scaling-up stage to enable farming families in 5 500 groups to directly participate in the programme.

Beneficiaries: 140 000 farmers.

Implementing partners: Ministry of Agriculture.

Duration: January 2006 - December 2007.

Funds requested: US$ 400 000 for 2005 (Total budget: US$ 800 000).

Issues addressed: Communities have to be revitalized to become food secure and productive. A strengthened capacity of civil society will support the recovery process, contribute to trade, create employment opportunities and stimulate good nutrition.

Objectives: Improve food security by rebuilding agricultural production capacities

Activities: Assessment of the seed sector and appraisal of marketing possibilities. Formation of farmer/processor groups, setting up seed promotion mechanisms and community based seed multiplication schemes. Establishing a system for the production of small food processing machines. Introducing appropriate post harvest technologies. Setting up village-level food processing centres, developing and marketing new food-based products. Training of youths in post-harvest technologies.

Beneficiaries: 10 000 farming families.

Implementing partners: Liberian Ministry of Agriculture, the Central Agricultural Research Institute, local and international NGOs.

Duration: January 2006 - December 2007.

Funds requested: US$ 1 200 000.

Appealing agencies: FAO/United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).

Issues addressed: War affected women, in particular returnees and ex-combatants, face difficulties while trying to be re-integrated in the economic life of their communities, consequently their households often suffer severe food insecurity.

Objectives: Providing alternative means of living for war-affected women and facilitating their integration through assisting them to carry out agricultural support services.

Activities: Sensitization and awareness-raising of rural women on the advantages of involvement in agro-processing and packaging. Provision of trainers, training equipment and start-up kits. Organizing the beneficiaries into groups for sustainable income generation.

Beneficiaries: 520 war affected rural women.

Implementing partners: Ministry of Agriculture, international and local NGOs.

Duration: January 2006 - December 2006.

Funds requested: Total: US$ 520 000 (FAO: US$ 416 000; UNIFEM: US$ 104 000).

Appealing agencies: FAO/WFP

Issues addressed: The lack of a National Food Security Strategy represents a serious gap. The successful implementation of this project would respond to the strategic priorities on mapping out Liberia’s approach and operational plans to address food security and nutrition issues.

Objectives: Development of a National Food Security and Nutrition Strategy intended to serve as one of the main documents outlining Liberia’s approach and operational plan to address food security and nutrition issues.

Activities: Hire a consulting team. Create a multi-ministerial commission along with a small government technical team. Discuss with local government and civil society at the county level to establish input and commitment needed for strategy implementation. Analyse results of recent experiences. Co-operate with government, donors and NGOs in designing and implementing pilot actions to determine what works, what doesn’t and what are the criteria for successful implementation at local level.

Beneficiaries: Ministries of agriculture, health and rural development, UN agencies, donors and development partners.

Implementing partners: Ministry of Agriculture.

Duration: January 2006 - December 2006.

Funds requested: Total: US$ 500 000 (FAO: US$ 250 000; WFP: US$ 250 000).

Appealing agencies: FAO/WFP

Issues Addressed: For countries facing a widespread and serious food emergency, FAO and WFP jointly carry out Crop and Food Supply Assessment Missions (CFSAMs), at the request of national governments. In Liberia, no official data on crop areas or production has been collected since the war started in 1989, except a CFSAM carried out in 2000. Additionally, most of the previous records have been lost.

Objectives: To estimate food production levels for 2005 and to assess the overall food supply and resources demand situation for 2006.

Activities: Rapid assessment of the status of major crops, estimate of food production. Collect information on livestock production and health. Assessment of the country’s overall macroeconomic situation, its capacity to commercially import food and to effectively deal with the crisis. Evaluation of short-term food security and the emergency food security situation, including number of people in need of emergency food assistance, their geographic distribution, and determine the volume and composition of food assistance requirements. A first assessment of potential for local purchases and constraints to food assistance distribution.

Beneficiaries: The Government of Liberia, donors and development stakeholders.

Implementing partners: Ministry of Agriculture.

Duration: September 2006 - December 2006.

Funds requested: Total: US$ 80 000 (FAO: US$ 40 000; WFP: US$ 40 000).