Rehabilitation & Reconstruction

Requested from ACT Alliance: US$ 1,623,621.30

The 14 year Liberian civil war left approximately 500,000 people displaced both internally and in neighbouring countries (Sierra Leone, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Ghana etc.) as well as devastated the economic infrastructure and disrupted the social fabric. The intervention of the International community in August 2003 stopped the hostilities. An interim government was established, the disarmament and demobilisation of a total of 100,000 fighters has been completed and the security situation has improved very significantly under the supervision of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).

The Liberian people have make clear to the world their desire to restore peace and stability in their country. Successful and orderly legislative and presidential elections were held at the end of 2005 and Liberia has now the first female elected president in Africa. However, the country is facing a lot of challenges. The resettlement of internally displaced persons is about 90 percent complete, while the repatriation of Liberian refugees is ongoing. However, many towns and villages still lie in ruins as IDPs and refugees are returning to them. Adequate safe drinking water and proper sanitary facilities are missing. Other basic facilities such as shelter, food, clothing and healthcare are not available. Schools are to be rebuilt, as well as the road network and bridges. Tools and seeds are needed for agriculture as an important part of the population still depend on food aid.

Beside the material impact, the conflict also had a huge psychological impact on those who perpetrated, suffered or witnessed violence. The many children that were enrolled as child soldiers need specific programs to be reintegrated into the society. People were victim of torture, women sexually abused and family members have been lost. All categories of the population were affected, which resulted in disorientation and dislocation of social roles such as gender, age and sex. Loss of respect and a high suspicion among the population result from the inter ethnic conflict. These traumas pose a major threat to peace building and recovery efforts by the Government, Churches and the International Community.

ACT members in Liberia, the Christian Health Association of Liberia (CHAL), the Concerned Christian Community (CCC), the Lutheran Church of Liberia, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), the Liberian Council of Churches (LCC), and their implementing partners the United Methodist Church of Liberia (UMC) and the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) have been responding to the crisis in Liberia, with the support of the ACT Alliance, since 2002. Four ACT Appeals have been issued to support the emergency relief as well as some capacity development and coordination among the members. An ACT Forum is already constituted in Liberia.

In this appeal ACT members in Liberia are requesting support to develop basic rehabilitation activities needed for the resettlement of the population affected by the war. They are proposing to assist the returnee population and the remaining IDP’s with: food and non-food items, reconstruction of shelters, agriculture recovery (seeds and tools), water and sanitation, health assistance, psychosocial support and peace and reconciliation activities.

Also included in this appeal is a request to support some capacity development activities to strengthen ACT members in Liberia and facilitate their transition from rehabilitation to development activities. Considering the positive evolution of the situation in Liberia this will be the last ACT appeal for this crisis, therefore, we are proposing to have a mid term evaluation of the appeal that will provide lessons learnt to the ACT members in Liberia and to the Alliance in responding to complex emergencies.

The current appeal includes the proposals of the following ACT members in Liberia, including the Concerned Christian Community (CCC), the Christian Health Association of Liberia (CHAL), the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), the Liberian Council of Churches (LCC), and their implementing partner the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA).

Please notice that this revision replaces the appeal issued on January 25, 2006.

Project Completion Date: December 31, 2006

Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance Requested:

Signed by:
Jenny Borden
Interim Director, ACT Co-ordinating Office