LIBERIA ANNUAL REPORT 2024

2024 began with the inauguration of the newly elected President, Joseph Nyumah Boakai’s government, which was a transition from the ruling Congress of Democratic Change (CDC) to the Unity Party (UP)-led government, which was the leading opposition party during the six-year rule of the CDC.

For many, it was a moment of hope as the president announced his leadership agenda, the Agenda for Inclusive Growth and the Country’s Development (ARREST). The president then reiterated the need for collective action, calling on government institutions, civil society, and international development partners to align their efforts with the goals outlined in the ARREST Agenda to ensure accountability, transparency, and measurable outcomes. The ARREST Agenda is Liberia’s fourth post-conflict National Development Plan, designed to advance the country toward achieving the Liberia 2030 Vision. It builds on the successes and lessons of previous initiatives, such as the Poverty Reduction Strategy, the Agenda for Transformation, and the Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development.

Over the period 2024, there were lots of national policy advocacy and actions taken, but worth noting were two significant milestone achievements toward accountability and transparency in the Liberian government:

Establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court

On April 11, 2024, leaders from the upper (97%) and lower (73%) signed the joint resolution to support the establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia. This was followed by Executive Order No. 131, signed by the president on May 2nd, 2024, creating the Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia. These couple of events went down as a milestone in Liberia’s transitional Justice History since the cessation of the Civil war in 2003 and the country’s search for Justice for the aggrieved citizens and lasting peace and reconciliation for all Liberians.

Public Expenditure Hearings

Towards ending the culture of impunity, on July 17, 2024, Liberia’s Auditor General, P. Garswa Jackson disclosed to the public at a news conference that 184 audit reports for both the government entities and donor funded projects were again submitted to the National Legislature through the joint Public Accounts, Expenditures and Audit Committee for hearing. The GAC boss highlighted that some of the key reports include the country’s first post-war comprehensive national payroll audit, domestic debt audit, and the audits of the Consolidated Accounts from pending fiscal years 2019/2020 to Fiscal year 2022, which were submitted to the 54th legislature but were never called up for hearing. The auditor expressed gratitude for the renewed dynamism and enthusiasm with the commitment of regularizing public hearings on these national audit reports. These reports and hearing events will follow a recommendation report from the PAC to the President detailing the consequences for noncompliance and misappropriations.

The action points mentioned set the stage for the Lab to partner with the UNDP and Liberia’s Anti-corruption Commission (LACC) on a country-wide national project to track and investigate public projects and corruption cases.

BY THE NUMBERS

Total number of dialogues/conversations

Training workshops conducted

Number of Organizations Engaged: CSOs

Number of Organizations Engaged: Media Institutions

Quotes from and Partners/Participants

Mr. Sylvester J.M Saye – M&E Manager, Institute for Democratic Action & Development (IDAD)

“The Internal Monitoring and Social Accountability Training of Trainers (TOT) activity under the Civil Society Activity (CSA) Project led by Accountability Lab Liberia was a valuable opportunity for CSOs in Liberia to strengthen their capacity and commitment to promoting transparency and accountability in the Health sector for improved policy implementation, reform, and service delivery at local and national levels”

Mr. Oliver K. Mondoi – Special Assistant to the Development Superintendent, Margibi County.

“I am happy you took the time to come and speak to us today. We, the youth, particularly motorcyclists, have been perceived to be associated with violence and drugs and even sometimes classified as criminals. But we all want the best for Liberia, and listening to you today makes us feel important, and we are challenged to do all we can to contribute meaningfully to keep Liberia safe and peaceful”.

Madam Roseline Cassell – Women Education Development Organization of Liberia

“This project (National Social Accountability Project) has given me insights into the importance of transparency and accountability, and to understand the role of citizens in monitoring government performance and advocating for change in governance, as well as, practical tools and strategies for holding public officials accountable”

Shifting norms to ensure that integrity becomes the expected behaviour within societies.

Influencing policies, processes and practises through growing coalitions and advocating for change.

Equipping reformers – inside and outside government – with the knowledge and tools to push for better governance.

Shifting norms to ensure that integrity becomes the expected behaviour within societies.

Influencing policies, processes and practises through growing coalitions and advocating for change.

Equipping reformers – inside and outside government – with the knowledge and tools to push for better governance.

Project 1: Civil Society Activity Project (Funded by USAID/DAI)

The Liberia Civil Society Activity (CSA) is a five-year program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by DAI Global, LLC (DAI) and its national partners, including Accountability Lab Liberia. The project activities aim to strengthen Liberians’ ability to advocate for policy reforms, policy implementation, and service delivery improvements through multi-stakeholder coalitions that build feedback loops among the GOL, CSOs, and citizens around reform priorities. The project provides opportunities for CSOs to build linkages with their peer groups and constituencies at national and sub-national levels. They also use linkages to communicate reform achievements to their constituencies and engage them in policy dialogue.

Accountability Lab Liberia is serving as a key provider of technical capacity-building services, peer-to-peer coaching, and mentoring to coalition members, including the completion of the CSOs Funding Streams Database, as they continue to co-design, implement, monitor, and adapt their advocacy strategies based on problem-driven analysis.

BY THE NUMBERS

NOMINATIONS

VOLUNTEERS

COUNTIES

Project 2: NED Peace Summits

ACCOUNTABILITY INCUBATOR

Before the October 10, 2023, general and presidential elections in Liberia, it was widely rumored that the activities/processes would be marred by violence. This was based on the pockets of violent incidences witnessed during and after the 2020 Senatorial elections. Consequently, the government of Liberia, through the National Elections Commission (the NEC) and its bi-lateral and regional partners on the 4th of April, 2023 organized the Farmington River Peace Agreement that saw leaders from 27 out of 31 political parties signing a declaration designed to ensure and enhance a nonviolent and peaceful electoral process.

Building upon this significant and laudable initiative, and from the backdrop of potential conflict looming after the final election results were announced, Accountability Lab Liberia under the “Preventing Election Violence and Promoting Voters’ Education” project organized and implemented the “Accountability Peace Summits” in the six most populated counties in Liberia; Bong, Grand Bassa, Lofa, Margibi, Montserrado, and Nimba. The gathering at the county level saw political party representatives, local, traditional, and religious leaders, youth and women representatives, civil society, the media, and security actors participating in discussions about how to maintain and sustain the peace in Liberia after the elections.

Through the CSO coordination at the county level in these six counties already mentioned, the Lab was able to engage about 300 key stakeholders in the different categories for the meetings. Detailed participants’ lists were developed, and logistical arrangements were set in place for the meeting, including the venue, public address system rental, refreshments for attendees, radio talk-show presentations, etc. were arranged by the coordinators. At each meeting, there was a panel of three ‘personalities’ that made brief presentations, after which there were open discussions, questions and answers, and key issues/barriers to peace proffered.

Objectives:

– Assemble key county stakeholders to discuss the status of peace in Liberia from their perspectives and the underlying causes of violence.

– Proffer and discuss key issues hindering Peace and the Rule of Law in Liberia

– Recommend ways citizens can contribute to peace-building and respect for the rule of law.

Key Outcomes:

– Local authorities and policymakers, the media, civil society representatives, religious leaders and chiefs and elders, women and youth leaders feel more engaged and are positive about keeping the peace in their respective locations.

– The meeting attendees identified and discussed the key issues hindering peace and the rule of law in Liberia and proffered several recommended actions.

Impact:

– Nine (9) general/common challenges/issues were identified as hindrances affecting peace and nonviolence.

– 15 county-specific recommendations were made from these meetings and sent to the county/national leaders for consideration

Key Learning:

– Listening to all the voices- Peace and nonviolence benefit all, therefore collective participation of the different groups of leaders in finding lasting solutions to a common issue can be holistic

Sustainability of our work:

– Building relationships, networking, partnering with the communities, and empowering them to take the lead in collecting information, analyzing, and sharing them with policy-makers to effect changes.

Quotes from and Partners/Participants

Representative from the Disabled Community in Lofa County

“ALab has shown interest in opportunities and professional advancement for its staff members. This commitment to fostering individual growth has empowered me to expand my skills and contribute more effectively to the team’s success, especially where my contributions are acknowledged and celebrated.”

A representative from the Bassa youth Causus-Buchanan City-Grand Bassa County

“Dialogue is essential for resolving conflict. We need to learn to listen to each other and find common ground. I’m impressed with the organization and implementation of this Peace Summit “

Project 3: UNDP- Empowering Citizens And Communities to Foster Social Accountability and Transparency In Governance and Public Service

The National Social Accountability Project aims to empower citizens and communities across 15 counties in Liberia, fostering social accountability and transparency in governance and public service delivery. The project enlisted active advocates (i.e., CSOs and media practitioners) to monitor, investigate, and report on corruption cases and public contracts/projects in Liberia. It provided training for CSOs, Women’s Rights Organizations, Community members, and local stakeholders with the knowledge and tools needed to investigate, monitor, and track corruption cases and public contracts/projects. Overall, the project aims to improve accountability and transparency in governance, leading to improved service delivery that meets the needs of the citizens.

Summary of Public Corruption Cases Tracked in the Counties

Over five (5) months; August-December, 2024, Accountability Lab Liberia and 15 Media partners across four hubs (Western, South-Central, Central-North, and South-Eastern) were able to track a total of 25 open corruption cases between 2020 and the present. The nature of the cases amongst others, included; Tax Evasion, Bribery, Misuse of Public Records, Theft of Property, Misuse of Public Money Records & Property, Criminal Facilitation, Economic Sabotage, Criminal Conspiracy, Unlawful Rewarding Of Public Contracts, Criminal Attempt to Commit Theft & Burglary, Misapplication Of Entrusted Property, Illegal Disbursement & Expenditure Of Public Money And Extortion, misuse Of Public Money, and Counterfeiting, across several sectors and departments of government. The Departments/sectors include Health, Finance, Education, Public Works, including LACE, NASSCORP, Mines & Energy, Internal Affairs, and Agriculture Research.

A total of 35 government-employed staff (six officials and 29 civil servants) from the public sector were accused of the corruption charges mentioned above with an alleged stolen cumulative amount of almost $30,7 million. These cases were sent and have been resident in ten (10) various courts across the country. The courts include the 2nd, 4th, 9th, 15th, 17th, and 16th Judicial Circuit Courts, the Monrovia City Court, the Greenville Magisterial Court, the Tienpo Magisterial Court, and the Palm Bay Magisterial Court. These cases are unsettled and are awaiting further evidence and support from the government to prosecute these accused civil servants/officials of the government for the crimes named.

Summary of Public Contracts/Projects Tracked in the Counties

Similarly, Accountability Lab Liberia and the CSO partners were able to track a total of 68 public contracts/projects amounting to a total value of $41,1 million being implemented by Internal Affairs, Health, Education, Finance, Public Works, Agriculture Research, and the Land Authority.

Out of the 68 contracts monitored and tracked, only 14 of them followed and documented the procurement processes as spelled out by the Public Procurement Concession Commission (PPCC) laws. The remaining 54 contracts/projects had incomplete documentation with unexplained gaps. Out of the 68 contracts/projects, 19 contractors hired had legal documents that were seen or filed at the development office. Fourteen contracts and related projects have been completed, six abandoned, and 48 uncompleted. Like the corruption cases, the contracts/projects date between 2020-2024.

Key objectives:

– Increase citizen engagement and participation in local governance processes

– Strengthen social accountability mechanisms and transparency in public service delivery

– Facilitate effective collaboration between citizens, civil society organizations, and local authorities.

Key Outcomes:

– National anti-corruption and integrity institutions and social accountability frameworks and mechanisms enable greater and more inclusive citizen participation and gender and youth-oriented public service delivery.

– Public service delivery is of higher quality and more equitability distributed as a result of citizens holding public officials accountable for having access to information about government operations and spending.

Impact:

– Accountability Lab Liberia and the media partners were able to track a total of 25 open corruption cases between 2020 and present, an alleged stolen cumulative amount of $30,6 million.

– Accountability Lab Liberia and the CSO partners were able to track a total of 68 public contracts/projects amounting to a total value of $41,1 million.

Key Learning:

– In a bid to ease the restriction on access to, and or bureaucratic delays to access records and information on tracking reporting on the corruption cases or projects, the Lab organized meeting discussions with county authorities and other key stakeholders to first provide a clear understanding of the project and activities, and thereby building relationship and connections for easy and clear communication between CSOs, Media Journalists, and county authorities.

Sustainability of our work:

Additional Programming Highlights

Impact Stories:

Empowering Communities: Using the Community Feedback Mechanism (CivActs)

Accountability Lab Liberia, with funding from DAI/USAID, is the lead organization providing capacity-building support for selected Civil Society Organizations in the health and education sectors in six counties: Bong, Grand Bassa, Lofa, Margibi, Montserrado, and Nimba counties on the Civil Society Activity (CSA) project. The Lab conducted training for CSOs on its pioneer citizens action (CivActs) approach- a structured approach for gathering, analyzing, and responding to community feedback, where CSOs act as intermediaries, facilitating constructive dialogue and ensuring that community voices/concerns are channeled to the policy-makers. This mechanism ensures that the feedback loop is closed and policymakers get the information they need to act.

Following the training conducted, one of the CSO representatives (Sylvester J. M. Saye- M&E Manager for the Institute for Democratic Action and Development, IDAD) commented on how much CivActs has improved community engagements:

It has Increased Community Participation in all of the places we work. People feel involved. They can express their concerns and feel happy about contributing to decision-making processes in their communities.
It has strengthened social cohesion. Dialogue and collaboration between communities and policymakers/authorities are more frequent and welcoming.
It has also enhanced accountability. Local authorities are more responsive to the community’s needs/concerns, as compared to the past. Communities are more organized, information on issues is better structured, and engagements are more constructive.
It has Improved Service Delivery. Feedback from communities has led to improvements in the quality and accessibility of basic services at the community level. In Margibi County, we have seen improvements in medical services at the clinics and hospitals, including the availability of drugs.

National Social Accountability Project: Communities Investigating and Tracking Corruption

Accountability Lab Liberia, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in 2024, implemented the National Social Accountability Project, supporting citizens and communities to promote Accountability and Transparency in Governance and Public Services delivery. The work investigated and tracked corruption cases and monitored public contracts/projects. The Lab worked along with 30 local organizations (15 Community-based organizations and 15 media organizations.

Peace Engagement and Alternative Center for Empowerment (PEACE) was one of the local organizations working in Maryland County, eastern Liberia. In a conversation with its Executive Director, Richelieu Molu remarked:

“Partnering with Accountability Lab Liberia was a learning curve. We are gaining more recognition in the county, improving our reporting capabilities and overall operating system. We have relocated to better office space, and visibility has increased for us, which might lead to new partnerships.”
“Our team is committed to attending sectorial meetings of public institutions in the county to keep us abreast with ongoing activities.
Before the project, public contracts were not properly documented. Even with contracts that were signed in the capital, Monrovia, for work to be done at the county level, the local authorities did not ask for copies of the documents for their records. Now, that has changed.
An official at the county level had limited knowledge about the importance of understanding how public contracts should be awarded and documented for accountability purposes, The NSAP has drawn citizen’s interest to hold leaders more accountable, ensuring that resources are allocated and used appropriately; the project did shine a light on corruption in the county, and including citizens to participate in promoting service improved delivery.

From Concern to Action: Rita Acquoiyo’s Journey Through the Accountability Peace Summit

Rita Acquoiyo is a youth coordinator in Lofa County, Liberia. She has always been passionate about youth inclusion and leadership, community justice, and peace-building. In her community, corruption and a lack of transparency have made it difficult for young people to trust security institutions. As someone who wants to be part of the solution, she was excited to be invited as one of the panelists at the National Endowment for Democracy Accountability (NED) Peace Summit in early 2024 after the national elections. The purpose of the summit was an awareness campaign aimed at keeping the peace, as the election saw pockets of violence around the country. These summits were held in the six most populated counties in Liberia: Montserrado, Nimba, Bong, Margibi, Lofa, and Grand Bassa.

As already mentioned, Rita served as one of the panelists during the summit. She remarked, “I saw that people in the room were sharing the same thought. One thing that kept coming up was respect for the rule of law. I believe that once there’s mutual respect between the police and the community, we can live better together,” she said.

Since the summit, she has put her newfound knowledge into action. She has engaged in practical work on advocating for the rule of law, which she gained from new strategies that came about from the summit. “From the summit, I have been able to improve my network and build rapport with the police, the Liberia Immigration Service, and the Women Secretariat in Voinjama, which has been useful and has helped me advocate for and help young people who might have issues in the county”. “Overall, the summit has motivated me to push for accountability, respect for the rule of law without fear, and how to build coalitions that amplify our voices.”

Staff Members’ Quotes:

Yassah E.S Baysah – Finance Officer

Allanko D Wennie – Finance Officer

“The driving force behind my continued dedication to work with ALab lies in the impact created through the Civic Space by building the capacity of Civil Society Organizations and other Youth Groups that in turn take the lead in building the capacity of key community members that will foster a change in their communities”

Allanko D Wennie – Finance Officer

Advocacy and Policy

a. Accountability Lab Liberia actively participated in and led the co-creation development of the 5th National Action Plan (NAP) of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) between the Liberian government and Civil Society. The plan was finally launched by the Senate Pro-Tempore, Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence of the House of Senate of the National Legislature, on the 26th of February, 2024. The OGP was first introduced in Liberia in 2011. It is a global initiative aimed at promoting open governance and enhancing public participation in decision-making. This fifth NAP launched comprised a total of eight commitments from the following public sector entities; Liberia Business Registry (LBR), Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), Public Procurement Concession Commission (PPCC), Liberia Anti-corruption Commission (LACC), Ministry of Public Works (MPW), the Judiciary, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), and the Ministry of Health (MOH). Accountability Lab Liberia serves as Co-Chair on the National Steering Committee of OGP Liberia’s chapter.

b. Accountability Lab Liberia is fully participating in the National Public Hearing on Audited reports from national government ministries, agencies, and commissions presented by the General Auditing Commission (GAC) and conducted by the Public Accounts Committee of the joint houses of the national legislature. This process is still ongoing at the Liberian Senate, and the Lab and other governance CSOs are participating in the hearing processes. The auditor general of the GAC, P. Garswa Jackson, on July 17, 2024, disclosed to the public at a news conference 184 audit reports covering 2019-2022 for both the government entities and donor-funded projects. The 55th Legislature Joint Public Accounts Audit & Expenditure Committee officially launched public hearings into the Auditor General’s Reports, marking a significant step towards enhancing transparency and accountability in Liberia’s government operations.

c. The Executive Director of Accountability Lab Liberia was nominated as one of the two Civil Society representatives on the Board of the National Bureau of Veterans Affairs of Liberia (NVBL). This strategic representation of civil society on the board is for ensuring that the rule of law actors who have served in the military and retired are taken care of by law and that the national security of the state is preserved. The National Bureau of Veterans Affairs was established by an Act of the National Legislature and approved on July 22, 2008. The National Bureau of Veterans Affairs has a mandate to advocate for the interests of the Veterans and to cater to their needs and benefits, including their integration into civilian life. The tenure of the board

STAFF CORNER

Zambia Learning Exchange- Famatta J. David

LIBERIAN ELECTION MONITORING – OCTOBER 10 AND NOVEMBER 14, 2024

Famatta J. David (Program Officer at Accountability Lab Liberia) participated in a three-day learning exchange meeting in Lusaka, Zambia, from November 18-21, 2024. The Paralegal Alliance Network of Zambia hosted this learning and exchange visit. This Network Alliance, like Accountability Lab Liberia, is an affiliate member of the Grassroots Justice Network, which is a global community that brings justice defenders together to connect, learn, and act. Before the in-person learning exchange visit, Famatta and Rockson Wolo (a paralegal of Accountability Lab Liberia’s community justice team in Logan Town, Bushrod Island, Monrovia) participated in an online course offered by the Grassroot Justice Forum. At the end of the course, thirty-six groups/teams out of the 80 that participated across Africa were asked to share their work on the communities most affected by injustice that they work with, and 17 groups, with one representative each, were invited to the in-person visit in Zambia. Below are the key highlights of the visits.

LIBERIAN ELECTION MONITORING – OCTOBER 10 AND NOVEMBER 14, 2024

The key objectives of the visit meeting:

– To strengthen the network groups to confront and challenge injustice by finding, mobilizing, and uniting efforts with others facing the same injustice or who care about the same cause.

– To work with other actors and communities in the context of countering the power of the “bad” actors and or “bad” laws/systems that cause inequality and injustice.

– To identify a common approach: find the problem, identify people affected, mobilize resources, and unite like-minded efforts to make change.

Shared Challenges identified:

– Bringing a community together to agree on what is needed

– Maintaining momentum and engagement over time

– Working around unsupportive local leaders

– Building power by leveraging local resources.

Summary of Key Takeaways:

– Analyze and understand the problem deeply.

-DDestabilize the pillar of power that maintains injustice by continuously building community power to address the gaps

– In a similar context, use the power of the network to understand what works elsewhere.

Key Learning:

Participation in a Regional Investigative Conference for Journalists and Whistleblowers- Parnneh Mallobe

Parnneh Mallobe (AL Liberia’s Communications Officer) is currently a member of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) youth-led Integrity Advisory Board and is now serving a second two-year term. In December 2024, she was invited to participate in a “Regional Investigative Journalism Conference on Corruption and Whistleblower Protection” conference organized and supported by the UNODC, Africa Uncensored, and the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAf), and held in Mombassa, Kenya, Eastern Africa, from 3-5 December. The conference focused on the role and contributions of investigative journalists and whistleblowers in fighting corruption across the continent. The event was attended by investigative journalists, civil society representatives, government reps, and international organizations aiming to fast-track the UNCAC implementation in Eastern Africa.

Parnneh served as a co-moderator during one of the sessions that dealt with cross-border collaboration to advance investigative journalism. This role entailed guiding the panelists in sharing their insights, encouraging active participation from the audience, and capturing, summarizing, and restating key points from discussions for takeaways. In the words of Parnneh, “The opportunity was a significant professional milestone. It allowed me to showcase my skills in public speaking, facilitation, and event coordination, as well as my experience as a journalist. Working with a dynamic team from the UNODC Eastern Africa Office, PPLAAF, and Africa Uncensored and interacting with a diverse audience broadened my perspective on issues investigative journalists and whistleblowers have in the Eastern African Region and how they have been able to navigate those challenges while speaking truth to power. The experience reinforced my commitment to anti-corruption practices, through fostering collaboration and driving positive change”.

BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS

TOTAL ANNUAL BUDGET

TOTAL PARTICIPANTS

TOTAL NUMBER OF GRANTS

TOTAL NUMBER OF STAFF

TOTAL NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS