Liberia Cash for Work Temporary Employment Project Giuseppe Zampaglione World Bank DDVE Seminar Presentation 2009-2 A presentation made on April 23, 2009 at the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings Civil Society Policy Forum in Washington, DC
Development Dialogue on Values and Ethics Civil Society Team Human Development Network DEVELOPMENT DIALOGUE SEMINARS Africa Food and Financial Crisis: World Bank, Government and CSO Responses Thursday, April 23, 2009 Giuseppe Zampaglione TTL of the Liberia Cash for Work Temporary Employment Project Africa Region Human Development 2 Social Protection
2002 2004 2006 2000 1998 Real GDP - 1966-2008 1996 = 100 Index of Real GDP, 1996-2007: 1996 = 100 180 US$890 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 US$190 Less than US$100 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996
Food price crisis Food is a large share of consumption Rice makes almost 40% of the value of food consumption Prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages increased 25% from January 2007 to March 2008 And an additional 8% as of July 2008
Labour Sources: 80% unemployed However. Core Welfare Indicators Questionnaire 2007 shows: Workforce of little more than 1m 11% is unemployed and 8% of those working are undermployed Almost 50% of the employed workforce is involved in unpaid work of low productivity Early 2007 minimum wage at US$ 2.5
Bank Response US$10m from the GFRP, to : Support vulnerable women and children with WFP to feed up to 62,000 children (3m) Support the agricultural supply response to reduce post-harvest losses and increase the productivity of rice and cassava (4m) Provide temporary employment through a Cash for work program (CfWTEP 3m), in particular create 680,000 person/days labor in 2 years (approximately 17,000 workers)
Highlights 1. Geographical targeting 2. Tergeting of beneficiaries 3. Wage level 4. Implementation arrangements 5. Role of IP/communities 6. MTR/Survey 7. Status
Geographical Targeting 1. All 15 counties 2. 2006 UN Comprehensive Food Security and Nutrition Survey (CFSNS) and adjusted with population figures 3. Existing LACE capacity 4. Availability of banking facilities 5. Recommendation of the board of LACE 6. Urban/rural balance (50-50)
Food Security
Targeting of beneficiaries Earlier focus on ex-combatants (UNMIL, ILO, Mercy Corps, USAID); now on vulnerable; Workers need to be at least 18 years old; Pregnant women are not allowed to work; No other benefit than the daily wage; The workforce includes at least 30% women (in practice more than 50%) Role of IP, of communities and local authorities
Wage level As of 2007 the minimum wage was at US$ 2.5 a day. Originally the project was designed at a wage level of US$ 2.5; However: 1) because of increase in prices during 2007 and 2008; 2) other agencies running similar programs at US$ 3.00; 3) various pressure the daily wage was set at US$ 3.00 Self-targeting for 40 working days only. This translates into 75% of the project cost to labour and materials and 25% management costs.
Implementation arrangements The Liberian Agency for Community Empowerement (LACE) manages the project LACE contracts Implementing Partners (IP) by county to manage project operations and to report to LACE. IP work very closely with communities and local authorities. ECOBANK makes the payments (either through its branches or by sending mobile teams with security) LACE trasfers funds to ECOBANK to make payments, pay fees to IP, and procures and distributes equipments
Implementation arrangements IDA LACE CF/CSO County City Worker Comm. Ecobank 1. Selection 2. Contract 3. Funds 4. Reports
Role of IP/communities IP interact with communities using participatory tools that LACE has already developed for the CEP to: Select beneficiaries, to ensure that vulnerable families are given priority; Disseminate information on the objectives of the project; Select appropriate Cash-for-Work activities; Maintain order on payment days; Provide feedback on activities; Liaise with local authorities to obtain government/county authorizations and support; Strenghten communities Manage the distribution of tools to beneficiaries once the program is over
MTR/Survey With Development Dialogue on Values and Ethics unit, will survey 1000 beneficiaries Main Objectives: Check on their income/assets situation (pre/post) And on substitution effect Targeting and improvements to be made to the Project If appropriate prepare the ground for additional financing
Status as of March 2009 County Direct Beneficiaries (Workers) Direct and indirect Beneficiaries Estimated transfers (120 US$ per worker) First phase completed Monserrado 1,000 5,000 120,000 Grand Bassa 1,000 5,000 120,000 Margibi 500 2,500 60,000 Nimba 1,000 5,000 120,000 Bong 1,000 5,000 120,000 TOTAL 4,500 22,500 540,000 Second Phase to be completed in July 2009 Lofa 1,000 5,000 120,000 Bomi 1,000 5,000 120,000 Bagbaulu 500 500 60,000 Cape Mont 500 500 60,000 Monserrado 500 500 60,000 Nimba 500 500 60,000 River Cess 500 500 60,000 TOTAL 4,500 22,500 540,000 GRAND TOTAL 9,000 45,000 1,080,000
F. ID card for benificiaries LACE Horton Ave., Monrovia NAEAL Broad Street, Monrovia CASH for WORKS TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT PROJECT (CfWTEP) ID# 001 Validity: October-December 2008 WORKING I.D. CARD Name: Lydia Belleh Position: Beneficiary Community: Paynesville Town Hall The bearer of this I.D. Card is a Beneficiary of the Cash for Works Temporary Employment Project, Paynesville Town Hall Community. If found please deliver to either of the above addresses or nearest the Police Station. BACK VIEW Holder s signature signature FRONT VIEW Authorized
Some working tools
Beneficiary Workers Duport Waterside Community Monserrado county
Thanks