UNDP Liberia News Board Quarterly Newsletter Issue 12 April-June 2017 In This Issue 1. Crown Prince Haakon of Norway Visits Liberia 2. Setting the Stage for Peaceful Co-existence in Concession Communities 3. Multi-stakeholders Platform Members Commit to peace in Concession Communities 4. Police and Immigration Get Patrol Boats and other equipment from Japan/UNDP 5. UNDP/Japan Regional Project Convenes Coordination Meeting In Liberia 6. UNDP Country Director Stresses "Honesty" Among Procurement Officers 7. Maintaining a Memorial Human Rights Commission holds town hall meeting 8. UNDP Liberia Staff Identifies with a Public School in Grand Bassa County during Retreat
UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Prince Haakon of Norway Visits Liberia United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway paid a three-day visit to Liberia to see firsthand the country s progress in consolidating peace, and in planning for and implementing the globally-agreed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. The two leaders also discussed the final drawdown and withdrawal of the UN peacekeeping mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and the role UN agencies and partners can play in supporting Liberians to consolidate peace and move the development agenda forward. At a public lecture at the University of Liberia s Fendall Campus in the capital Monrovia, the UNDP Goodwill Ambassador called on the country s youth to get actively involved in ensuring that Liberia tackles poverty and inequality, and remains on an irreversible path of peace and sustainable development. Prince Haakon Interacts with Ebola Orphans in Caldwell Montserrado County Crown Prince Haakon is an advocate for UNDP s efforts to assist Member States achieve SDG 1- to end poverty in all its forms everywhere. During his time in Liberia, Crowned Prince Haakon discussed his impressions of the country s progress, and the transition to the Without young people, we will not meet the SDGs. Each and every one of you can play a role in moving Liberia forward. Think about all Liberians and support a peaceful process when you vote this October Crown Prince Haakon said. The UNDP Goodwill Ambassador also met with young people. At the I-Campus, Crown Prince Haakon officially launched the nomination process for the 2017 edition of Integrity Idols, a citizen-led initiative to recognize and celebrate honest and accountable public servants. PG-1
Prince Haakon also heard from women leaders gathered at Monrovia s Fish Market, the epicenter of Liberia s peace movement; and from young entrepreneurs at the Liberia Market Place who are promoting Liberiamade goods. The Goodwill Ambassador also visited with Ebola survivors, orphans and response workers; the Pink Panthers female motorcyclists focused on women s empowerment; and high school students at the D Tweh Memorial School in New Kru Town that is at significant risk of destruction from coastal erosion. Outside Monrovia, the Crown Prince also visited the recently recommissioned Mount Coffee hydro power station which is supported by the Government of Norway and other partners. The power station is now generating clean and renewable energy for the first time in more than 25 years following extensive rehabilitation works that started in 2014. The Project is being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme with funding from the United Nations Mission in Liberia in partnership with the National Bureau of Concession (NBC). It is a peace-building and community cohesion project in four land conflict-prone concession sites around Liberia to include Sinoe, Maryland, Grand Cape Mount and Nimba Counties. The workshops were part of Strengthening National Reconciliation through Improved Understanding of Conflict Drivers in Concession Areas and the Establishment of Multi-Stakeholder Platforms. -30- Setting the stage for peaceful coexistence in Concession Communities Affected Communities in concession areas have resolved to maintain a peaceful and harmonious relationship with concession companies operating within their Counties. Representatives from project affected areas in Sinoe, Grand Cape Mount, Maryland and Nimba Counties made the resolution during series of peace building and conflict resolution trainings organized in the respective counties under the Assessed Funding Project. Participant Celeste Toby presenting on behalf of her group during the training in Sinoe County Over 90 beneficiaries were drawn from over 27 Project Affected Communities (PACs), the Elder and traditional Councils, Civil Society, Women in Peacebuilding Network (WIPNET) and other local peace structures in the four counties, formed part of the trainings. Carrying out violence and talking behind one another will not solve the problem says Celeste Toby of Butaw Sinoe County. PG-2
Madame Toby noted that the training will help them serve as Peace Ambassadors, in restoring calm among their people. The workshop has broaden my knowledge on peace building and conflict resolution and has helped me understand the issues between the various project- affected communities and concession companies intimates Matthew Benson also from Butaw. Participants also lauded the Government of Liberia, UNDP and UNMIL for the initiative and vowed to use dialogue to resolve conflict emanating from project affected communities. Group Presentation on confliction prevention held in Grand Cape Mount County In Grand Cape Mount County, UNDP Country Director who briefly interacted with the beneficiaries called for Tripartite engagement in Responding to concession Issues. The concession may not be operating to your expectations, but your response should not be violent or conflict. Your response should be based on a tripartite arrangement and continuous dialogue. Tripartite mechanism should be maintained, Dr. Beyai said. Also speaking, the Director of the National Bureau of Concession (NBC) Ciatta Bishop told PACs to ensure that the operations of the concession positively impact their respective communities through dialogue and peaceful engagements. At the end of the day, what has affected you most impact you positively. The government will not always be right all the time, the concessionaires will not always be right all the time and you will not also be right all the time; but your goal must be to ensure that the community is positively impacted, despite and whatever the disagreements may be she added. Dr. Francis Kaikai, Head of Peace Consolidation Section of UNMIL told members of the PACs to ensure peaceful co-existence with the concessionaires for the development of their respective communities and Liberia in general. The Multi-Stakeholder Platforms also use the opportunity to elect their respective Leaderships. -30- Dr. Pa Lamin Beya encouraged project affected communities and citizens across Liberia to always use tripartite engagement in responding and seeking redress to concession issues. PG-3
Multi-stakeholders Platform Members Commit to peace in Concession Communities Platforms established in the four conflictprone Counties. The two-day meeting was organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with funding from the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) in partnership with National Bureau of Concession (NBC) under the Assessed Funding Project. Inducted MSPs making a pledge to promote peace during the 2-day Meeting In continuation of the implementation of the Assessed Funding Project, community dwellers of various concession areas in Liberia promised not to use violence to solve any future problems. Project Affected Community (PAC) members from concession areas in Sinoe, Nimba, Maryland and Grand Cape Mount Counties resolved to channel their grievances through their leaderships organized by the National Bureau of Concessions (NBC). The resolution was made at the end of a two-day national multi-stakeholders Platform meeting in Monrovia. The pledge was made during the formal induction of the leaderships of the four Multi-Stakeholder It was designed to strengthen concession monitoring and prevention capabilities of participants by providing space for experiential learning on how to formalize, operationalize and monitor the activities of MSPs in response. Under the theme Improving Citizen s Engagement in Concessions Management, delegates pledged to work with concessionaires to avoid conflict. The participating concession communities in their recommendations said, We want the passage of the Land Rights Bill with urgency because it gives communities the right to own land so that community dwellers will have something to protect them. Speaking at the program, UNDP Resident Representative and Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Mission in Liberia Yacoub Hillo, stressed the urgent need for issues surrounding land to be adequately addressed as a means of maintaining peace and stability across the Country. PG-4
The tenure and concession issues around land are the main drivers of conflict that need urgent attention stated Mr. Hillo. At the same time, the Director General of the National Bureau of Concessions (NBC), said it was important that citizens participate in dialogue instead of engaging in violence in concession areas. -30- Police and Immigration Get Patrol Boats and other equipment from Japan/UNDP The Liberia National Police (LNP) and the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) received sets of equipment donated by UNDP with funding from the Government of Japan under the Border Surveillance Post Ebola Project. The handing over ceremony took place at the Liberia Maritime Authority Training Academy, in Marshall, Margibi County and was attended by the Inspector-General of the LNP, Mr. Gregory O.W Coleman and the Commissioner-General of the LIS, Cllr. Lemuel Reeves, who received the donations on behalf of their institutions. Mr. Steve Jackson of the Ministry of Justice received the donations from UNDP through its Deputy Country Director for Programme, Mr. Cleophas Torori. Among the donations were six state-of-theart patrol boats also called dinghies a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defense duties, which will be used for border patrol and protection roles, including anti-smuggling, anti-piracy, fishery patrols, and immigration law, as well as rescue operations. The project which has been implemented since March 2015 seeks to strengthen the institutional capacities of the LNP and LIS, with a specific focus on border security through enhanced surveillance systems, screening of border crossings and patrol of border points. It can be recalled that uncontrolled border crossings resulted in the transmission of Ebola. This will be the first time for the LIS to have such watercraft for marine and river patrols, besides other logistics provided to boost its capacity, thanks to the UNDP project. PG-5
Besides the dinghies, other sets of equipment donated included 2 Toyota Land Cruisers Hardtop motor vehicles (for Monitoring and Evaluation), 32 Desk top computers, 32 Laser jet Printers and 100 Camp-beds valued at US$371,336.22, all shared equally between the 2 agencies. In total, the $3.6m project which has just ended has enhanced the operational and logistical capacity of LIS and LNP with 18 vehicles, 160 motor-bikes, 2,000 rain gear, 16 tents, 260 camp beds, 200 hand-held communication radios and 80 base radios, 168 mega-phones for community sensitization, 100 flash lights, 200 hand-held thermometers, 15 solar panels with technical rooms that are yet to be installed at selected border posts and police stations in the counties, and 8 Public Address (PA) systems under the case of the County Superintendent to be used for public engagement and sensitization, among other sanitation kit supplies for about 400 female officers and households heads. donation that has greatly helped to strengthen the capacities of their institutions. As the project comes to a close, it is obvious that it has immensely enhanced operations and patrols of the security agencies, especially in the border counties, and consequently increased the confidence and trust between security agencies and border communities, as well as improve social cohesion and peaceful co-existence. The project has also demonstrated the fruitful dividends of the partnership between UNDP and the Governments of Japan and Liberia. -30- Receiving the equipment and items on behalf of their respective institutions, both the Inspector General of the Police Gregory Coleman and the Commissioner- General of the Liberia Immigration Service Lemuel Reeves pledged to use the equipment for the purpose intended and expressed appreciation to UNDP and the Government and people of Japan for the UNDP Deputy Country Director for Programme Torori pose for photo with LNP and LIS Counterparts PG-6
UNDP/Japan Regional Project Convenes Coordination Meeting In Liberia The Regional Post-Ebola Project of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with support from the Government and people of Japan conducted a two-day regional coordination meeting in Monrovia. Dr. Beyai said UNDP attaches importance to decentralization and strengthening of local capacity, infrastructure, and the economy; as well as allowing people to effectively participate in taking decisions and implementing projects that affect their wellbeing. The evidence is the critical role played by the communities in the Ebola response in the various countries Worthy of specific mention is the need for economic empowerment of women and the youth, and their full participation in decision-making processes. A cross-section of Delegates attending the Regional Meeting in Monrovia UNDP Country Director, Dr. Pa Lamin Beyai, speaking at the event appreciated and applauded the government and people of Japan for supporting many projects in the country and the sub-region. In addition to this Regional project, Liberia is a beneficiary of a few of Japan funded projects, including the just ended US$3.6m Enhanced Border Surveillance Project he added. Hence the importance of this project, the UNDP boss added. The project aims to support regional institutions operational capacities; regional early warning responses, mechanisms and policies; local governance in cross-border areas; local authorities, communities and civil society capacities; strengthened for economic opportunities and promotion of local development; and social cohesion, dialogue and peacebuilding in the four Mano River Union (MRU) Countries i.e. Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea (that were affected by the Ebola outbreak) and Cote d Ivoire. Roosevelt Woods, Executive Director of the Foundation for International Dignity (FIND) said the two-day coordination meeting afforded them the opportunity to share remarkable successes and challenges of the project in the different countries. FIND is one of the implementing CSOs of the Regional Post-Ebola Project. Looking at this project, though very short, it had a very serious impact in terms of PG-7
strengthening capacities in the rural areas and we hope that in the future we will have some post intentions that will require additional awareness, engaging our local authorities to be able to address pressing social-economic situations we have in our country. Mr. Woods said. To ensure the successful completion of the remaining activities, and collaboration among partners, and stakeholders; UNDP for Development and Peace (P4DP) and the Search for Common Grounds (SCG). As the Ebola outbreak ended in 2016, UNDP, with support of national and regional partners, developed this regional project funded by the Government of Japan to support the three Ebola affected countries (Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia) and Côte d Ivoire. Delegates attending the 2-day Regional Ebola Meeting Held in Monrovia with the national partners, including County Authorities plans to hold Citizens engagement sessions. The project is being implemented in Liberia by the Agency for Economic Development and Empowerment (AEDE); the Foundation for International Dignity (FIND); the Peace Building Organization (PBO) of the Ministry of Internal affairs (MIA); Platform The project addresses residual cross-border recovery needs within the Manu River Union (MRU), and assists governments and affected communities in the areas of health service provision, social and economic governance, peace building and security. -30- PG-8
UNDP Country Director Stresses "Honesty" Among Procurement Officers The Country Director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Liberia called for 'honesty' among procurement officers in Liberia at the opening of a set of back to back trainings for CIPs Levels 2 and 3 for public procurement officers. Dr. Pa Lamin Beyai said anyone who sees procurement as a money-making profession to earn extra money outside of their salaries must immediately leave. The trainings were organized by the Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC) with support from UNDP for beginners and mid-level procurement personnel from Line Ministries, Agencies, Commissions and UNDP. Also, the Executive Director of the Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC) Dorbor Jallah said the training for the batch of thirty (30) persons for CIPS level 3 was the third group for this year. The first two were done early February and late March where a total of 70 procurement personnel benefitted. By the end of this batch, Liberia may have trained, at level three, up to one-hundred people which is a good thing, Mr. Jallah said. Sidiki Quasia of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) also lauded efforts by the Public procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC) with support from UNDP for the strides being made to build trust, efficiency and effectiveness among procurement Staff to help promote accountability and transparency. -30- About 60 trainees formed part of a batch of staff who have either successfully completed previous levels of the CIPS trainings or are beginners. This initiative seeks to qualify public sector procurement practitioners for certificates in public procurement and subsequent accreditation by the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS), based in UK. "You are being trained to make savings for the government without losing sight of the quality that you are looking for... Procurement is not for money making. If you're here to make more money, then I think you're in the wrong place..." Dr. Beyai said. One of the Beneficiaries of the CIPs Training gazing through the Procurement manual PG-9
Maintaining a Memorial Human Rights Commission holds town hall meeting The Independent Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) conducted a two day stakeholder town hall meeting with some residents of the Duport Road Community and officials from the Paynesville City Corporation for the maintenance of the Duport Road Memorial Site. The Duport Road Memorial site is a UN Peace Building Fund project, managed by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and implemented through the Independent Commission on Human Rights as part of the National Reconciliation Road Map which was recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation; under the Community-based Truth Telling, Atonement and Psychosocial Recovery Project known as the (Palava Hut Project). to manage the memorial in order to make it a source of peace and reconciliation, instead of a place of vengeance. When I think of some of these massacres and genocides that happened around the world, they remind me of the barbarism to humanity. This is unacceptable. He said the Duport Road and other memorials that are being built in the country is a way of giving dignity to those that did not have the opportunity to be buried with respect. Bartholomew Colley expressed disappointment in the way young people assemble at the memorial site especially during weekends and holidays to celebrate. During the discussion, the Acting Chairman of the INCHR Bartholomew Colley told the participants that INCHR has been instrumental in the implementation of two major components of the National Reconciliation Road Map, which are the National Palava Hut and the Memorialization thematic areas. The INCHR Boss expressed the hope that participants will make use of lessons learned from Liberia s ugly past and focus on how The Duport Road Memorial Located in the Suburb of Paynesville I must say I m not happy about the way people come here from the community and nearby communities to play loud music and drink alcoholic beverages while dancing. PG-10
Also speaking at the Town Hall Meeting on behalf of the United Nations, Randall Harbour, the Senior Political Affairs Officer at the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) thanked the INCHR for the initiative and urged families of victims to be strong in overcoming their grief. I know this will not help you in your sorrow, but let it be a step towards national reconciliation in building a better future. The Duport Road Memorial was dedicated on March 8, 2017 in honor of several Liberians who died during the 14-year old armed conflict, which befell the country, from December 24th 1989 - up to August 11th, 2003. Bodies that were collected from different parts of Monrovia were buried in a mass grave at the Du-port Road Waterside Community in Paynesville. -30- UNDP Liberia Staff Identifies with Tobacconie Public School in Grand Bassa County during Retreat The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) through its Staff Association identified with the Tobacconie Elementary Public School District #3, in Grand Bassa County during a Country Office Staff retreat held in that part of the country. Under the theme Leveraging Our Strength, Raising Our Profile, UNDP staff which include both national and international employees turned over several assorted supplies to the school as well as the student population. The School administration received solar lights and radios, a type writer, crayons, boxes of A4 paper and other stationaries while the students received assorted items such as book bags, copybooks, pencils, sharpeners, erasers, clothes, toiletries, sweets among others. The Staff also had a cookout with the students and the administration. The school has over 200 pupils with only two teachers including the Principal. One of the happy beneficiaries with her new book bag provided by UNDP Liberia Staff It is situated a distance from Buchanan City PG-11
and lacks basic supplies to properly operate the school. The Principal Jerry Payne said they needed the typewriter because the school lacks electricity and has no means of preparing the tests for the students. UNDP Country Director Pa Lamin Beyai told the students that the gifts were made available through the generosity of staff members who sacrificed their daily subsistence allowances and other personal contributions to put smiles on the faces of the students and the school. He encouraged the students to pay attention to their lessons and stay in school for a better and brighter future. The Staff Association is composed of staff from UNDP, UN Women, UNFPA and UNOPS. Its President Eutychinus Kaman Weah said the donation followed an assessment visit to the school where it was observed that the institution lacked basic stationaries and other instructional materials while most of the students did not have school supplies. Receiving the items, the Principal of the school Jerry Payne, praised UNDP and the staff for selecting his institution for such memorable donation. -30- Staff of UNDP distributing school items and interacting with the Students of the Tobacconie Public School in Grand Bassa County PG-12
Donors Implementing Partners
UNDP Liberia Staff Retreat in Photos