UNDP Liberia News Board Quarterly Newsletter Issue 14 October-December 2017 In This Issue 1. Germany Boosts Elections Security with US$200,000 2. National security officers receive communication gadgets 3. Liberia goes hi-tech to combat corruption 4. BOSS Center Launched at Commerce Ministry 5. UNDP Starts Consultations On Design of New Programme Document 6. President Sirleaf Launches Women Situation Room 7. CIPS Levels 3-4 Training For 59 Procurement 8. The Emma Smith Foundation Catalogues Ebola Survivors Stories 9. Last County Service Center Opens INCREASING YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN THE 2017 LEGISLATIVE AND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORAL PROCESS
Germany Boosts Elections Security with US$200,000 The Government of Germany contributed US$200,000 to security deployment, in continuation of enhancing and strengthening support to elections security in the Country. The Government of Germany on the eve of the October 10 elections signed an agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). These elections mark a key milestone in Liberia s consolidation of its nascent democracy and are a crucial test for state and independent institutions in Liberia. Security provision for electoral material and for voting on polling day is key to maintaining public confidence in the elections. The Ambassador to Germany H.E Hubert J. Jäger signed on behalf of his Government while UNDP Deputy Country Director for Programmes signed on behalf of the Country Director Pa Lamin Beyai. UNDP Deputy Country Director for Programme Cleophas Torori and Ambassador Jäger signed the document According to Ambassador Jäger the objective is to support the deployment of over 5,000 security officers by contributing to their daily living allowances on Election Day, a run-off if held and provide secure transfer of election materials. Effective deployment of security personnel prior to, during and after these elections remain critical to the sustenance of Liberia s peace process Ambassaddor Jager noted. With a reduction of the international presence in Liberia and a planned full withdrawal of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in 2018 the country needs to continue to strengthen its national institutions and processes to conduct elections in a credible and sustainable manner. The Support from the Germans also takes in consideration the establishment of a hotline at the Governance Commission (GC) to deal with grievances that may require mediation by the Mediation Committee established under the auspices of the Inter-Religious Council. PG-1
National security officers receive communication gadgets UNDP turned over communication gadgets to the Liberia National Police (LNP) and Liberia Immigration Service (LIS). Seventy six Kenwood UHF digital portable transceivers with accessories, were handed over to authorities of the LNP and LIS by UNDP Country Director, Dr. Pa Lamin Beyai at the LNP Headquarters on the eve of the October 10 elections. general and presidential elections in Liberia, This additional support will help you in the elections security as well as after the elections, because you have very good use for these 76 radios. We hope you will have time to configure and use them not only for these elections, but to enhance your daily work Dr. Beyai said. Simeon F. Frank, Deputy Inspector General of Police/Crime Services Department- LNP and LIS Director of Procurement, Lassana B. Dambeley signed on behalf of their respective Institutions. The gadgets will be used to enhance communication links during and after the elections Dr. Beyai said the donation was an addition to previous support from UNDP which seeks to enhance and strengthen security during and after the elections. It is part of support to the Government of Liberia for the conduct peaceful In separate remarks, they thanked UNDP for the continued support to the Country particularly the security sector and promised to use the donation to enhance their work in the country. Liberia goes hitech to combat corruption On 18 December, UNDP joined the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission to dedicate the new forensic digital lab (funded by UNDP), and operation and reports rooms (funded by USAID). The cyber-lab is set to aid anticorruption agents tackle the crime in Liberia. PG-2
Prior to the new tech and training, Liberian investigators collected data, tagged it and shipped it off to South Africa, Kenya, or even the USA, for testing and analysis. alone, said Clr. James N. Verdier Jr., LACC Executive Chairperson. He added: We have staff who studied [with international professionals] and now we want to see those skills. A Staff at LACC demonstrating the use of the tools before UNDP Country Director and LACC Executive Chairperson With the right skills and tools, you can tackle corruption, but you have to understand that corruption fights back from all angles, so this is a tough job, said Pa Lamin Beyai, UNDP Liberia s Country Director. Tackling corruption needs resources. After intense training on not only the equipment, but forensic analysis, it s expected that Liberia s anti-corruption agency can layout solid evidencebased cases that have a better chance of successful convictions, and rightful exonerations, in the prosecution phases. To really combat corruption, we need strong partnerships. We can t do this UNDP s US$500,000 contribution under the Strengthen Transparency, Accountability, Oversight and Participation (STAOP) project, allowed the LACC to send three of its core investigators to South Africa for international training on forensics, specific technical assistance for navigating the legal links of the evidence, and to set up the digital forensics lab. This enables the LACC to accelerate pending fraud cases. BOSS Center Launched at Commerce Ministry The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) through the division of Small Business Administration (SBA) with support from UNDP launched the Business Opportunities Support Services (BOSS) Center in Monrovia. The BOSS Center was officially launched by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and is aimed at improving livelihoods of many Liberians and increase the viability of their businesses. It will work to strengthen many beneficiary groups including small PG-3
agricultural producers and support MSME development through the provision of financial and non-financial services. UNDP Country Director Dr. Pa Lamin Beyai commended the MoCI staff for their efforts in leading the sustainable growth of MSMEs, and for the and support the implementation of micro and small and medium enterprises policy in Liberia through the establishment of Business Support Service Centres at the County level, which will strengthen capacities of youth, women and agri- producing enterprises. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf performing the official dedication of the BOSS Center partnerships with the MIA to enhance decentralized services through County Service Centers. Commerce and Industry Minister Alex Addy lauded the UNDP for the gesture and promised that the center will be used to support the government s MSME sector in the country. According to him, the vision of the center is to help SMEs to be well informed and learn the opportunities of the government procurement to help them go after contracts that will develop their businesses. BOSS is a UNDP supported project in partnership with the Ministries of Internal Affairs and Commerce. It was established to enhance decentralization In a related development, The UNDP Business Opportunities Through Support Services (BOSS) Project conducted a 4-week Business Development Service and Entrepreneur training in Four Counties. The Training of Trainers (TOT) is a pilot program that commenced in Gbarnga Bong County and extended to Nimba, Margibi and Grand Bassa Counties. About 25 local business development service providers selected from the four Counties went through these exercises to improve the quality of entrepreneur services at the County level. In Bong County, the first 5-day training managed by an expert facilitator, saw the trainees being introduced to the module of facilitation. Marcus Zarway, the Project Manager of the BOSS Project says at the end of the exercise, those service providers that will be vetted and certificated will be used to support other small and medium business entrepreneurs in their respective localities, through training opportunities to improve service delivery. PG-4
He urged participants to take advantage of the opportunity to contribute positively to enhancing the decentralization program in Liberia. BOSS is a UNDP supported project in partnership with the Ministries of Internal Affairs and Commerce. It was established to enhance decentralization by supporting micro and small and medium enterprises policy implementation in Liberia through the establishment of Business Support Service Centres at the County level, which will strengthen capacities of youth, women and agri- producing enterprises. UNDP Starts Consultations On Design of New Programme Document UNDP conducted a two-day consultation with national partners on the preparation and design of a New Country Programme Document (CPD) 2019-2023 for Liberia. The exercise held in Monrovia 30, November-01 December, brought together over 25 Representatives from line Ministries, Agencies and Commissions (MACs) facilitated by UNDP Experts from its Regional Bureau in Addis Ababa. The five- year Country Programme Document is linked to a UNDP Strategic Plan and outlines major development areas where UNDP has comparative advantage (example. governance, BOSS Trainers are to help mentor Proprietors and Operators of Small and Medium Businesses across the country. peace, justice, security, sustainable development etc). Speaking during the consultation, UNDP Country Director Pa Lamin Beyai stressed that Liberia has a lot of development challenges which need all hands-on deck to resolve. Dr. Beyai said UNDP usually operates by soliciting the views of in- country experts for national ownership. As you know our support is usually catalytic and is based on government s priority and the best people who can articulate the priorities of government of Liberia will be these capacities we have around this table, the UNDP Boss stated. Also making remarks, Acting Internal Affairs Minister Varney Sirleaf thanked UNDP for the collaboration thus far in the implementation of the current CPD which the Ministry of Internal Affairs is playing a key role. PG-5
Minister Sirleaf said under the current CPD, the Ministry is implementing the de-concentration phase of the Decentralization Programme, with the establishment of Country Service Ebola crisis. Thus, it has been extended to 2018. President Sirleaf Launches Women Situation Room The two-day event highlighted key messages of a new Strategic Plan (2018-2021) endorsed by the Executive Board of UNDP on Tuesday 28, November. Centers in eleven of Liberia s fifteen counties. For his part, Acting Assistant Minister for Sectoral Planning at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning Sidiki Quisia said the implementation of the current CPD is moving smoothly. Mr. Quisia stated that as the Agenda for Transformation (AfT) comes to an end in December this year, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has begun the design of a successor framework as a baseline for the Country s national development agenda. UNDP s current Program Document 2013-2017 was expected to come to an end in 2017. But implementation of the Plan was interrupted as a result of the President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf launched the Women s Situation Room (WSR) in Liberia for the 2017 elections. Making remarks at a formal program, the Liberian Leader, mentioned that elections have demonstrated the maturity, anxiety and enthusiasm of Liberians for moving the country to the next stage in a democratic transition adding that It could only happen if all Liberians were peaceful. She expressed appreciation for the peace that Liberia now enjoys, applauding Liberians for contributing to it. President Sirleaf applauded the WSR initiative by the Angie Brooks International Center (ABIC). We want to congratulate you because they ve done a great work, all over, working with young people and let me say to you, the Situation Room is your Initiative you make it work, you make it happen, you make it succeed by your PG-6
participation President Sirleaf intimated. The Government of Norway is a strong supporter of Security Council Resolution 1325 that reaffirms the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, and post conflict reconstruction. electoral violence, is important to us. Ms. Buli noted. Representing the United Nations in Liberia, DSRSG of UNMIL and UNDP Resident Representative Yacoub Hillo applauded the efforts of ABIC in advancing the WSR now a global brand, and its deployment for an historic election in Liberia with all the World watching. WSR mobilizes women in collaboration with youth to lobby and advocate stakeholders to support the call for peaceful elections in accordance with UNSCR 1325 which affirms the role of women in peace processes and peacebuilding. The Second Secretary of the Embassy of Norway in Liberia Ingrid Buli speaking at the launch, stressed that the eyes of the world are on Liberia s elections, hoping to see the country conduct peaceful and fair elections. Knowing that violence can be a challenge during elections, supporting efforts like The Women s situation room, that seeks to prevent Mr. Hillo stressed the importance of advocating for peace and providing an environment for all Liberians to exercise their democratic right especially women. The UNDP Resident Representative underscored the historic nature of Liberia s elections terming it as the defining moment for Liberia in sustaining and consolidating the peace, especially with the ongoing transition with UNMIL s final draw down and withdrawal. For her part, Counselor Yvette Chesson Wureh of ABIC said peace remains critical before, during and after the Country s elections. The Women s Situation Room (WSR) is a women s peacebuilding mechanism to mitigate conflict before, during and after elections. PG-7
UNDP, LRA Turn over Large Baggage Scanners at Airport UNDP and the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) have formally turned over two large baggage scanners at the Roberts International Airport (RIA) in Margibi County. UNDP Country Director Dr. Pa Lamin Beyai said the donation of the two scanners is in support to the LRA s Customs Office at the Airport for proper screening of goods and materials entering the country in line with the Customs Tariff Code of Liberia. Speaking at a commissioning ceremony at the RIA in Margibi County, Dr. Beyai said the scanners will also serve in domestic revenue mobilization and help in curbing some security threats that may be posed by goods and luggages entering the country. operate and maintain the scanners at US$140,000.00. LRA Commissioner General Elfrieda Stewart Tamba said with the support of donors and other partners, the LRA is striving for the transformation of tax administration in Liberia to the benefit of the country and its people. We want to say to the Country Director of UNDP, a big thank you. It s because of your support that we are here to dedicate these two scanners The use of the scanner is very important today. It minimizes human interventions and as a result in many jurisdictions around the world, you will see that scanners are deployed to help facilitate trade Madam Tamba said. Specifically, the scanners will help protect people properties in line with international best practice for customs at airports. They will also improve customs effectiveness at the RIA entry and exit points, increase operational efficiency, and minimize smuggling the UNDP Boss said. He puts the overall cost, including transportation, installation, accessories and training of ten (10) LRA staff to The instillation of the equipment will play a major role in the transformation process of the RIA. The Managing Director of the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) Wil Baka Freeman also praised the UNDP for the equipment, indicating that it will also improve the movement of passengers and give a modern face to the airport. PG-8
The commissioning of the scanners was also accompanied by the certification of LRA Customs Officers who were trained by UNDP to operate and manage the machines. CIPS Levels 3-4 Training for 59 Procurement Officers program will be at the advantage of not only the trainees, but Liberia as well. The PPCC Boss said women account for 39% of the CIPS Level 4 trainees while men constitute the remaining 61%. He stated that 8% of the trainees were selected from duty stations out of Monrovia in support of the government s decentralization policy. The Country Director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Liberia Dr. Pa Lamin Beyai says the training of mass procurement staff in Liberia is critical to the Country's development. He said the training of the procurement practitioners at various levels of CIPS is one of the biggest programs that UNDP has invested in Worldwide. Dr. Beyai spoke at the start of back to back Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply Procurement Certificate training (CIPS) trainings levels 3 & 4 supported by UNDP for Procurement Staff from various line Ministries, Agencies as well as UNDP. Over 300 Procurement staff have so far benefitted from the CIPS trainings being conducted at different levels (1-4). Mr. Jallah encouraged the trainees to focus and ensure that they all pass successfully and prepare for the graduation next year. The purpose of this is to create that critical mass of procurement staff for this country we are very happy as UNDP to know that in the next couple of years, this country will not be short of procurement experts.. He noted. The Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) James Dorbor Jallah said the training of more CIPS certified procurement professional through this CIPS is the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply based in the UK which aims at qualifying public sector procurement practitioners for certificates in public procurement and subsequent accreditation by the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS). PG-9
The Emma Smith Foundation Catalogues Ebola Survivors Stories In what is seen as the first effort to bring out the untold stories of Ebola survivors in Liberia, the Emma Smith Reality show kicked-off an advocacy project at the Golden Gate Hotel auditorium. UNDP is funding this project in a series of radio and Television syndicated shows that seek to bring out the stories of Ebola survivors in an effort to mobilize resources from government and donor She said they are contending with issues of feeding, shelter, schooling and medical needs. Madaindu expressed concern that people have been coming and collecting their stories without doing anything about their problems. She mentioned that there is hardly any support from any sector. I see the Emma Smith Reality Show as a channel of reaching out to the rest of the world in soliciting assistance on behalf of Liberia s forgotten heroes and heroines of the EVD epidemic Madaindu noted. The Emma Smith Reality Show intersperses information and entertainment. communities in ameliorating the pathetic conditions Ebola survivors are contending with. It was divulged during the interview that the philanthropic effort she has assumed has resulted in the breakup of her marriage. He has abandoned her because he could not cope with the burden of taking care of the foster children. Madaindu used the occasion to raise concern about one of her missing wards, who absconded from the orphanage and has not returned since the day of elections on October 10. Banjor Pinyonkosa Community Orphanage Care Giver, Madaindu Dakowah, in an interview with Emma Smith Reality Show crew, disclosed that she is catering for eleven orphans whose parents died as a result of the EVD scourge. The missing girl s case is a reflection of the lack of adequate support at the orphanage, forcing them to fend for themselves in the streets. PG-10
Last County Service Center Opens The Liberian Leader Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, on 20 December cut the ribbon to the Montserrado County Service Centre in Bentol. It s the last of the 15 new centres to be commissioned. These county-level administrative centres, build with support from UNDP, EU, USA, UNMIL and Sweden, provide essential basic government services to a large number of citizens. Dignitaries including Farid Sarif, UN s Special Representative of the Secretary- General, UNDP s Resident Representative Yacoub El Hillo, UNDP s Country Director, Pa Lamin Beyai, and Ambassadors from EU, USA and Sweden, helped officially launch the centre. To date, more than 30,000 people have accessed the services nationwide, raising over US$500,000 in revenue for the government coffers, which goes back into the system to provide more services. Having basic government services at the county-level, according to President Johnson Sirleaf, is only one part of decentralization. Liberia s development depends on having these one-stop shops at the heart of counties, rather than clumped together in Monrovia. Some of the services provided at the centre include marriage license, birth certificates, business registration, labor dispute submissions, and psychosocial support, among 13 other services. This is a great step towards decentralization. Currently, citizens must travel to Monrovia to access these basic services regardless of where they are in the country. Some people travel for one week, at great cost, to reach the capital city, then they pay for lodging and food, on top of the cost of the services themselves. This results in many people forgoing the documentation, or waiting until the last minute. Now, the centres can provide those services all in one place closer to home. Over the period 2015-2017, UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Internal Affairs with funding from donors like EU, Sweden and USA, constructed or refurbished 15 centres, and outfitted the buildings with all the furnishings to make them functional. As a result of this investment, government budgets have allocated significant funding to keep these centres operational. If you can t get a drivers license, it s not working. If you can t get a wedding certificate, it s not working. Let s go that extra mile to show that it s working as it should, she said. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf cutting the ribbon to the County Service Center in Bentol, Besonville PG-11
INCREASING YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN THE 2017 LEGISLATIVE AND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORAL PROCESS The Youth and Elections project is partnering with the Government of Liberia at two levels: the project partners with the Ministry of Youth and Sports to support National Youth Institutions including the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY), the Liberian National Student Union (LINSU), the Coalition of Youth Institutions on Elections, the Mano River Youth Parliament among others to establish Youth Peace Committees (YPCs) in all 15 counties. Other activities include strengthening existing youth networks. In Bomi, Cape Mount and Gbarpolu Counties, the UNFPA, through a UN agency to agency agreement with the UNDP under the Youth and Elections Project, is working with NGOs and CSOs to provide training for members of the Liberia National Police, Local Authorities from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Market Women and Street Vendors in youth participation in peacebuilding/sexual & Reproductive Health Rights and Gender Based Violence. In Grand Bassa County, the Institute for Research and Democratic Development (IREDD) hosted one of eight trainings designed to teach youth on detecting and reporting early warning signs of violence. In Montserrado and the South East, the Messengers of Peace have been conducting street theatres with students, community and disadvantaged youths as well as in market centers. The Peace Building Office (PBO) and the Office of the National Peace Ambassador (ONPA) for their part are working with the Liberian National Police, Political Parties, Traditional Leaders and Youth Groups to promote confidence and trust building as well as provide information on early warning signs of conflicts among others. PG-12
Donors Government Partners Ministry of Commerce & Industry Ministry of Youth and Sports Ministry of Internal Affairs Implementing Partners Liberia Anti-corruption Commission Liberia National Police, Action Aid, UNFPA, Naymote, IRRED, LMDI, MoP, Messengers of Peace Liberia Revenue Authority, Public Procurement and Concession Commission