Liberia is located on the west coast of Africa and is similar in size and population to Ireland.
Two periods of conflict in the 1990s and early 2000s devastated the country. Over a quarter of a million people were killed, while one million people were displaced.
Ireland has been supporting the people of Liberia since the end of the second civil war. The Irish Aid programme in Liberia was established in 2005, shortly after the end of the civil war. Ireland opened an Embassy in Monrovia in 2018.
From 2003-2007, Irish peacekeepers played a key role in the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). This mission supported Liberia's transition to a peaceful, multi-party democratic country.
Liberia continues to face huge challenges as it makes the transition to stability and democracy.
Particular challenges remain in delivering basic social services and in rebuilding infrastructure devastated by the civil war.
Ireland's development priorities in Liberia are nutrition, food security, gender equality and strengthened governance.
Background
Liberia has made significant progress in a range of areas. However, it remains fragile with high levels of poverty.
Mortality rates among children remain high. People lack access to essential services in health, education and water and sanitation. The country also remains extremely vulnerable to shocks. The Ebola outbreak of 2014-2016 resulted in the death of almost 11,000 people and eroded years of development gains.
Women and girls face particular challenges. There are high rates of gender-based violence and teenage pregnancy. Girls have lower educational levels compared with boys.
Liberia is rich in water, mineral resources and forests. It has a climate favourable to agriculture. Its principal exports are iron ore, rubber, diamonds and gold, making Liberia vulnerable to price volatility.
Irish Aid's work
Ireland's work in Liberia covers three main areas:
Strengthening governance
Liberia has made strong progress in maintaining multiparty democracy. However, aspects of the political structures remain fragile. This includes barriers to more equitable participation by women.
Irish Aid contributes to the UNDP Liberia Elections Support Project. This supports the National Elections Commission (NEC) to conduct credible, transparent, inclusive and peaceful electoral processes. In 2021, we worked with the NEC to establish a system to respond to electoral violence.
Health/Nutrition
Liberia has the lowest number of doctors per head of population in the world. Child and maternal health rates are worrying. Maternal deaths are very high, while malnutrition affects many children.
Ireland supports programmes to improve the nutritional status of children under five years of age. The project is focussed on Grand Bassa and Rural Montserrado, regions which experience chronic malnutrition.
Ireland also supports UNICEF to provide nutritional supplements in communities and schools across 15 counties.
The Maternal Childhealth Advocacy International (MCAI) programme works with nurses and midwives to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths across 10 counties. Supported by Irish Aid, the project trains midwives to become obstetric clinicians. Monthly obstetric outreach clinics are held to identify high risk mothers.
Gender equality
Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is a huge problem in Liberia. Women also suffer from harmful traditional practices including female genital mutilation.
Ireland supports programmes to reduce SGBV within communities. We also support UNFPA on improving access by adolescents to integrated Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) services. Much of this work is focused on Rivercess County, which has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in the country.
Ireland promotes a women’s leadership culture in Liberia. We work with partners to promote the inclusion of women and people with disabilities into civic and political life.
We also support partners who protect and empower LGBTQIA+ people in Liberia.
Improving community awareness of gender equality
Yatta Kollie, (36), is the mother of a four-month-old baby boy. She had rarely listened to radio - and was not aware of the benefits of breastfeeding her infant son.
But thanks to a radio programme broadcast weekly on the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS), Yatta’s attitude towards breastfeeding changed.
The advice she got from the WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) and Nutrition Hour, has transformed life for Yatta and her baby.
“My baby and I are bonding," she says. "He is more active, and our visits to the hospital are limited thanks to what I have learned through the WASH and Nutrition Radio programme.”
Irish Aid supports the Liberia Wash Consortium (LWC) to improve the nutrition of children under the age of five. This support includes the broadcasting of the LBS programme.
According to John Kumeh, the presenter of WASH and Nutrition Hour, the show has had a huge impact on general health and nutrition.
The programme is connecting with a wide range of listeners who lack basic information on issues that affect their everyday lives.