1. Introduction to Liberia and CARE Liberia
ANNEX 1
Introduction to Liberia and CARE Liberia

2. 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

3. 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 million (51% of women)

4. 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%

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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
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

10. We live in a country where there is:
OUR DREAMS
We 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.

11. 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)

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

13. THANKS!