2009 BRAC Annual Report Liberia

realisingpotential

LiberiaAnnual Report 2009

BRAC, a development organisation, wasfounded in Bangladesh in 1972 by FazleHasan Abed. Over the course of its evolution,BRAC has established itself as a pioneer inrecognising and tackling the many differentdimensions of poverty. Our unique, holisticapproach to poverty alleviation and empowerment of the poor encompasses arange of programmes in economic, social andhuman development. Today, BRAC has grownto become the largest southern NGOemploying more than 120,000 people, themajority of whom are women, and reachingmore than 110 million people with ourdevelopment interventions in Asia and Africa.

Since 2002, we have been using ourexperiences of innovating and scaling upmulti-faceted anti-poverty programmes toenergise and accelerate poverty alleviation efforts in other countries. Currently we havecountry programmes in Afghanistan, Liberia,Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Southern Sudan, SriLanka, Tanzania and Uganda. We also providesupport to other NGOs in Haiti, Honduras,India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Peru.

ABOUTBRAC

Contents

LIBERIAAnnual Report 2009

Microfinance 04

PartnershipsRecruitment, Trainingand Research 3028

Financials 30

24 28Agriculture, Livestockand Poultry Health

BRAC Liberia, along with BRAC Sierra Leone, is one of our newest international

programmes. Established in 2008, we have launched successful programmes in

Microfinance, Health, Agriculture, Livestock and Poultry; reaching more than 582,000 of the

poorest Liberians with our comprehensive approach to poverty alleviation and

empowerment of the poor. As the programmes expand, we are providing career

opportunities for young Liberian women eager to contribute to their country’s future. We

currently employ 161 Liberians (71% women) and have mobilised nearly 300 community

based volunteers as part of our wider team. We invest in their career development through

on-going training and capacity-building. Over the next two years, BRAC’s Microfinance

Programme in Liberia will serve almost 40,000 clients, a majority of whom are women

members. Our Health, Agriculture and Livestock Programmes will benefit not only these

borrowers and their families, but the wider community in the areas served.

BRAC in

LIBERIA

Women borrowers at a microfinancemeeting in Kakata.

2009 has been an important year for

BRAC in West Africa, as it was the year in

which we began full operations in both

Liberia and Sierra Leone. During the first

half of the year, BRAC incorporated the

BRAC Liberia Microfinance Company,

made possible with investment from the

Soros Economic Development Fund and

the Omidyar Network Fund Inc. We set up

our branch infrastructure and recruited

and trained staff and surveyed

communities to identify potential

members. In June, we disbursed the first

microloans to our women’s group

members and began providing training

and technical assistance to help maximise

their investment.

The United Nations Capital Development

Fund also contributed support to build the

microfinance company. With funds from

Humanity United, Omidyar Network and

the Foundation Open Society of West

Africa we launched programmes in

Health, Agriculture and Livestock in

November 2008. A pilot project for broiler

chicken rearers was implemented to

assess opportunities and challenges in

the poultry sector, and seed testing and

multiplication, which started in 2008,

continued at our farm in Kakata. By the

end of the year, BRAC Liberia had

successfully exceeded its targets and

continues to grow.

BRAC Liberia provides more than 160

Liberians, 71% of whom are women, with

permanent employment. In addition, nearly

300 local volunteers have been selected

and trained for our health, agriculture and

livestock programmes. These field-level

staff members and volunteers are the

human face of our work and directly make

essential services available to the poorest

people in the country.

BRAC Liberia is beginning its first full year

of operations in 2010. We will expand our

microfinance services for poor women to

new areas, introduce loans for small

enterprises, and build on our poultry pilot

project. We will also provide vaccines for

poultry, continue exploring possibilities for

expansion of the livestock programme,

and establish a regional training centre to

build the capacity of West Africans. BRAC

will also work in close collaboration with

the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare

to upgrade tuberculosis laboratory

services.

Since 2008, we have developed very

strong ties with various Ministries of the

Government of Liberia. We work in close

collaboration with the Ministries of

Finance, Commerce and Industry, Health

and Social Welfare, and Agriculture, and

are working with the Ministry of Education

to develop a strategy for successful

programmes in this challenging sector.

BRAC always ensures collaboration with

key organisations and other stakeholders,

most importantly our beneficiaries.

Liberia is a country with a troubled past, a

challenging present and ample

opportunities for equitable progress in the

future. During the next few years, BRAC

will rapidly expand its activities to ensure

that greater numbers of the poorest

women and children have access to the

essential services they require.

When I visited Liberia in July 2008, I was

honoured to meet with Vice-President

Joseph N. Boakai, Acting Ministers of

Health and Social Welfare, Agriculture,

and Foreign Affairs, and other key

organisations to discuss the way forward

for Liberia. I also equally valued my

meetings with people in the rural

communities to discuss the challenges

they face. We feel that our inclusive

approach is a strength of BRAC’s

programme in Africa and Asia, and BRAC

Liberia will continue to involve

stakeholders at all levels to ensure that the

poorest Liberians have the opportunities

to fully realise their own potential.

(Sir) Fazle Hasan Abed (KCMG)

Founder and Chairperson

Chairperson’sStatement

“Before joining BRAC, I sold dried fish here at the market in Sinkor, but only‘small-small’. Life was difficult and I worried a lot. I lost my husband in the war, and had nobody to support me. I received my first loan from BRAC inAugust 2009, and life has changed a lot since then. I still buy my fish in Grand Cape Mount, which is a long journeyaway and takes me two to three days, but I can buy much more now that I have more money.

Annie Walker (49) has eight children and lives in Sinkor, Monrovia. She receivedher loan of L$15,000 (USD 214)

microfinancelivelihood development services

04/05BRAC Liberia Annual Report 2009

Across Liberia, every week more than10,000 women attend their local BRACmicrofinance meetings to repay theirweekly loan instalments, apply for newloans, buy health products from theirCommunity Health Volunteer (CHV) andreceive additional support for theirvaried small businesses.

Liberia is a country dealing with the aftermath of 14years of civil war. Survivors took refuge inneighbouring countries or were displaced, and losttheir homes and livelihoods as a consequence of thepolitical turmoil. An estimated 64% (2007) of thepopulation is living below the poverty line of USD 1per day, most of whom in rural areas.

BRAC began working in Africa in 2006. Drawingupon experiences from Uganda, Southern Sudanand Tanzania, BRAC was encouraged to work inLiberia and sent a team to West Africa in early 2008.Operations in Liberia were also launched that year.The BRAC Microfinance Company was incorporatedin January 2009 and disbursed its first loans in Juneof the same year.

BRAC’s Microfinance Programme focuses on povertyalleviation by providing affordable and easilyaccessible microloans. The essence of our approachis that in addition to ensuring access to capital, wealso provide a range of essential services that enableborrowers to develop sustainable livelihoods, accesseducation and training opportunities and mitigate lossof productivity due to disease. We call this approach‘Microfinance Multiplied’.

While Microfinance forms the nucleus of ourapproach, the supporting programmes of Health,capacity building and livelihood development throughAgriculture and Poultry, create an enablingenvironment that allows poor women, who are BRAC’sprimary clients, to break out of an inter-generationalcycle of poverty.

By adding supporting programmes to Microfinance,we can multiply the impact of the programmes to begreater than the sum of their parts.

The ‘Microfinance Multiplied’ approach supportsindividual women who serve as conduits into theirhouseholds, communities and future generations,

compounding the impact of our work and creating alasting change.

Our services are very accessible as we go directly tothe poor women we are targeting and meet them intheir villages, homes and places of work. As a result,our members avoid any travel costs and minimisetime spent away from their businesses. We alsoprovide training and capacity building for incomegeneration, thereby increasing poor women’s abilitiesto manage and expand their businesses and makethe most of their small capital and resources.

One such woman is Zinnah Kango, 49, who lives inSinkor, Monrovia. In August 2009, she received herfirst loan of L$ 12,000 (USD 171) through the BRACbranch office in Central Matadi. “Every month I buyfifty bags of coal and sell them at the market. I payback my loan every week at the BRAC meeting. Iunderstand more about doing business andcalculating my expenses so I don’t lose money. Wediscuss our business problems too. The profit I makeis about L$2500 [USD 35] per month.”

In early 2010, BRAC will also start issuing smallenterprise loans in Liberia. These larger loans forsmall and medium enterprises will be available toboth men and women. Those qualifying for this loanare slightly better off than the microloan target groupbut are still denied access to formal financialinstitutions. The small enterprise loan, unlike themicroloan, is offered directly to an individual, and isrepayable in monthly instalments.

“One really poor lady here inour community was not doingmuch; she had no businessand no job. She joined themicrofinance group and hergroup members agreed togive her a loan. She now hasa second-hand shoebusiness, and can take careof herself.”

Vera Turay (29)Manager, Kakata Branch inMargibi County

PROGRAMMEHIGHLIGHTS“The situation of many Liberian women is dire. Family ties and commitment from partners arenot strong, and many women are the sole providers for their families. Our borrowers have showndetermination and ambition; they are the backbone of the country. I salute the women ofLiberia.” R.M. Farhad, Managing Director, BRAC Liberia Microfinance Company Ltd.

PROGRAMMEACHIEVEMENTS2009

USD 1.67

10

million has been issued to more than 8000borrowers across four Counties (Montserrado,Margibi, Bong and Nimba) since June 2009.The average loan size is USD 208.

78,535households visited by BRAC’sLiberian surveyors to assess indetail the appropriate locationsfor each of our twenty branchoffices. Our most talentedsurveyors were promoted tothe position of credit officer.

404women groups have been formedfor our first ten branches with almost 11,000members. Our most talented surveyors werepromoted to the position of credit officer. Todate, nearly 90 Liberian employees have beenrecruited and trained by BRAC to operate ourMicrofinance Programme and help alleviatepoverty in the country.

branches initially established. Managers and Credit Officerstrained for a further ten branches (mostly located in rural areas) whichwill start issuing microloans in early 2010.

BRAC’s Microfinance Programme has been designed

to provide reliable access to cost effective financial

services to poor and marginalised women.

Programme Components

Women’s groups: Community partnerships and

institution-building are essential for poor people if

they are to change their economic, social and

political conditions. We deliver our microfinance and

other programmes through organising groups of poor

women who come together to improve their socio-

economic position.

BRAC microfinance branch offices conduct areasurveys and consult with community leaders andlocal elders to select the 40-60 members of eachgroup. The group is then sub-divided into smallergroups of five, each with their own elected leader.The members of the small groups take co-

responsibility to solve peer repayment problems.New borrower groups meet four times before anyloan disbursement takes place. After that, they meetweekly to discuss credit decisions with theirdedicated BRAC credit officer and make their loanrepayments. BRAC provides training and technicalassistance to its members and others in thecommunity, empowering them to earn more incomefrom existing activities and start new ones.

Microloans

BRAC lends to women who are not served by other

microfinance institutions. Borrowers range in age

from 20-50 with little or no education. BRAC lends to

women who are not served by other microfinance

institutions. Immediate objectives of these loans are

increased access to microfinance services for

marginalised families for the initiation of sustainable

micro-enterprises and strengthening of the

institutional structures for efficient and effective

management of the microcredit systems.

Borrowers typically operate businesses that provideproducts or services to their local communities.Women with seasonal businesses, such as farming-related activities, may also be eligible for shorter termloans.

Small Enterprise Programmeborrower Musu Cooper,restocks the shelves in hershop in Monrovia.

PROGRAMMEDESCRIPTION

BRAC provides more than just microfinance. We use themicrofinance groups as a social platform to deliver scaled-upservices in health, education, business development andlivelihood support – all critical components needed to ensurethat poor people can break the cycle of poverty


Key Features of a Microloann Loan repayments in small weekly instalments

n No physical collateral needed

n Loan range: USD 100-500

n Competitive interest rates

n Death benefit provided

n Services delivered to member’s village

n Available in rural and urban areas

Small Enterprise Loans

BRAC offers small enterprise loans to entrepreneurs

seeking to expand small businesses. The loans

enable owners to create new employment

opportunities and provide new services. Typically,

loans are given for trading, agriculture, livestock and

poultry, fruit production and other types of small

enterprises. These small entrepreneurs would

otherwise have limited access to the formal financial

system – too large for microloans but with not

enough collateral for commercial banks. The small

enterprise loan is offered to an individual rather than

to a group, and is available for both male and female

entrepreneurs.

Some members of the microloan scheme become

eligible for a small enterprise loan as their

businesses grow and expand and their investment

needs change.

Key Features of a Small Enterprise Loan

n Available to both male and female entrepreneurs

n Loan range: USD 1,000-3,000

n Competitively low interest rates

n Repayment mode: equal monthly instalments

Selling second-hand clothes/shoes

Selling soft drinks/water

Selling charcoal

Retailing - groceries

Hairdresser/Beauty Parlour

Selling bush meat/dried fish

Tailoring

Selling rice

Selling CDs

Running a restaurant/bar

Food cooking and vending

MicroloansMost popular loan uses

1

2 3 4

Small EnterpriseProgramme (SEP)borrower David GudworJaryan opened his shoestore in Kakata with aloan from BRAC.

Borrower Louise Karwhinasells pots and cookwarein Kakata.

Tamu Pindu has a smalloutdoor restaurant inKakata which she runsusing her BRAC loan.

Microloan borrower MarieKorpelleh sells fish inKakata.

1

2

3

4

In Liberia, the majority of people areinvolved in small-scale farming activities involving the entire family such as poultry and livestock rearing and cultivating small plots of land of less than one hectare. In addition to providing poor women with the investment capital for their activities, BRAC offers training and support on modern farming techniques that cangreatly increase their profits.

livelihood development services

agriculturelivestockand poultry


As part of BRAC’s ‘MicrofinanceMultiplied’ approach, we launched theAgriculture, Livestock and PoultryProgramme in Liberia in 2008.Agriculture is the largest sector of theLiberian economy and the mostimportant source of income for women.

Liberia is heavily dependent on agriculture and

livestock to feed its people and since the sector was

largely destroyed by the civil war, its rehabilitation is

essential for the economic revitalisation of the country

as recognised in the government’s Poverty Reduction

Strategy.

In Bangladesh, BRAC has been working to increase

the productivity of this sector since 1978, developing

many supporting activities such as disease

management, the dissemination of improved breeds

and crop varieties, the supply of livestock and poultry

feed, and milk processing and distribution. Since then,

we have helped more than 4.2 million people create

and sustain livelihoods from different kinds of farming.

In Liberia, the majority of people are involved in small

scale farming activities, such as raising chickens,

sheep, goats or pigs and cultivating small plots of

land of less than one hectare. In addition to providing

poor women with the investment capital for their

activities, we offer training and support on modern

farming techniques which can greatly increase their

profits.

James Kolleh is in his early forties and a model

farmer specialised in the production of eggplant,

cucumber and bitter ball. He has years of farming

experience and is completely dedicated to his farm

and job. “I knew many things about crops, where

they grow well, how much sunshine they need and

how to intercrop. But BRAC has taught me even

more about farming. Also, I don’t need to go to the

market to buy my seeds, insecticide and fertiliser, but

tell the agriculture extension worker supervisor what I

need and he brings it to me. This saves me a lot of

time and bargaining, and I don’t need to pay until I

have harvested.”

The programme operates through volunteer

agriculture extension workers and livestock volunteers

with farming experience who are selected directly

from our microfinance groups. These female

volunteers receive intensive training, microfinance

loans and supplies to inform and assist other

farmers, enabling them to substantially improve crop

harvests and livestock yields. The extension workers

and livestock volunteers benefit from increased yields

on their own farms as well as new income from

selling services and inputs, such as high quality

seeds – to their farming neighbours.

At each branch, BRAC recruits one agriculture and

one livestock supervisor, who are responsible for

training the extension workers and volunteers, and

who supervise their activities.

Model farmer James Kollehdisplays cucumbersharvested on his farm outsideKakata.

PROGRAMMEHIGHLIGHTS

“Liberia has goats, sheep, pigs and poultry, but lacks veterinarians to cure sick animals,animal feed, or commercial poultry rearing. BRAC conducts extensive research andimplements pilot programmes to ensure a successful and sustainable livestock programmein Liberia can be introduced.” Shapon Kumar Paul, Agronomist, BRAC Liberia


50 agriculture extension workersidentified and trained in five ruralbranches in the AgricultureProgramme in 2009.

chickens vaccinated against Newcastle disease, Gambro virus andbronchitis by livestock volunteers as an income generating activity.Livestock activities will start with the introduction of medicine andvaccination of goats, sheep, and pigs.

11,000+

5 new rural branches set-up withrecruitment, information collection andoffice space.

1,875 small-holder farmers were trained between June andSeptember as model farmers who give support to other farmers in theirrespective communities. To enable farmers to obtain better yields, ouragriculture extension workers started providing technical support and collectingrequisitions for farming materials, after which they supplied the farmers withhigh-quality seeds and fertiliser as well as the use of insecticide spraying cans.BRAC’s rural branch offices also started lending tool sets to poor farmersoperating in our areas.

6 farmers supported by BRAC for broiler rearing in 2009, and supplied with atotal of 1,000 day-old chicks and 2,500 kg of chicken feed. The rearers sold thechickens when they were fully grown.

BRAC’s Agriculture, Livestock and Poulty Programme

addresses the problem of poor crop and livestock

productivity in Liberia.

Crops grown for domestic consumption include rice,

cassava, sweet potato, plantains, yam, bitter ball,

cucumber, eggplant and ground nuts. Liberian

agriculture remains heavily dependent on rainfall, with

less than 1% of arable land under irrigation.

Traditional livestock farmers breed nearly 100% of all

cattle, goats and sheep, using local animals and

basic techniques.

Our aim is to improve the efficiency and management

of small to medium farm enterprises. The programme

is designed to increase agricultural output, decrease

livestock mortality, raise farm income, and increase

rural employment.

Agriculture and Livestock ProgrammeSupervisors

Both components are coordinated at the branch level

through dedicated programme supervisors. Each

programme supervisor receives extensive training

from BRAC on topics such as livestock and poultry

rearing and diseases (for livestock volunteer

supervisors) and improved farming practices, high

yield seed varieties and related technologies (for

agriculture extension worker supervisors). They also

attend an annual refresher course to keep their skills

updated. Once trained, the programme supervisor’s

role is to train and supervise the agriculture extension

workers and livestock volunteers who are at the core

of the programme. At any point in time, programme

supervisors can ask for assistance from the

agriculture and livestock extension officers based at

the area offices.

Agriculture Extension Workers

The primary agents for the agriculture activities are

the self-employed model agriculture extension

workers. They are required to have a minimum of two

years agricultural experience and farm at least two

King Kerkulah, BRACAgricultural ExtensionWorker Supervisor, talkswith farmers in Kakataabout proper agriculturaltechniques.


Our aim is to improve the efficiency and management ofsmall to medium farm enterprises. The programme isdesigned to increase agricultural output, decrease livestockmortality, raise farm income, and increase rural employment.

“I dropped out of school at ninth grade because I didn’t have any money and had a three-year-old son. BRAC gave methree-weeks training on poultry. Now I go out every day for one hour and tell people that’s its important to get their chickens vaccinated. BRAC provides the vaccines and I sell them.”

Elain Konah (23), is a single mother and BRAC livestock volunteer in Kakata.

acres of land. They must be willing to work with other

low income farmers in their community and supply

them with quality inputs. The agriculture extension

workers are trained by BRAC programme supervisors

or extension officers to offer technical assistance to

general farmers operating on a small scale, i.e. less

than one acre of land.

BRAC agriculture supervisors at branch level attendmicrofinance group meetings to identify agricultureextension workers from among the members. Thelocal BRAC branch is responsible for screening andshort-listing candidates; the final selection is done bythe agriculture extension officers at the area office.

The agriculture extension workers are then provideda two-week training at the branch office. This coversfarming techniques for specific crop varieties,focusing on the entire life cycle of the crop, startingfrom preparation of the land to harvesting. When theirtraining is complete, each of the agriculture workersidentifies 250 small-holder farmers living in theircommunities with the support of the branch staff.Forty of these farmers will become model farmers,who specialise in crop production and promote goodfarming practices to others in their communities.Agriculture extension workers assist the famers ontechnical issues such as choice of varieties to grow,improved seeds to use, crop-spacing, rotation,intercropping, weeding, planting, fertilisation, pestcontrol, post harvest management, utilisation of by-products, as well as integration of crop and livestockenterprises within the farm. They also sell improvedseeds and other agricultural inputs.

Poultry and Livestock Volunteers

The poultry and livestock component also carries outcommunity activities through self-employedvolunteers. These are experienced poultry andlivestock women farmers who are selected fromBRAC microfinance groups. After selection, theyreceive extensive training in livestock husbandry,health issues and vaccinations. Training also includesthe production and conservation of fodder crops.Once trained, poultry and livestock volunteersgenerate income by charging fees for their services.With help from BRAC, they offer vaccination services,sell veterinary medicines, and provide technicalassistance to other microfinance group members andthe wider farming community. Livestock volunteersselect and assist model poultry farmers and broilerrearers.

It is through this pyramid of entrepreneurial extension

agents and structured supervision system that BRAC

can extend our services to thousands of people in

Liberia.


“I visit about ten households in our community every morning to find out if theyhave any health problems. I also give them information about hygiene, family-planning and malaria, and sell medicine, oral rehydration salts (ORS), sanitary napkinsand water purification solution. I am responsible for 220 households in total. Ialso help the community health worker tocarry out general health sessions in mycommunity. BRAC gave me training, and Iam proud of what I know now.”

Patience Scott (27) is the mother of two girls,she became a Community Health Volunteer in August 2009.


In November 2008, BRAC begancommunity activities under its HealthProgramme in Liberia. Health activitiesare based on a proven model ofcommunity health care in Bangladeshwhich is also successfully applied inBRAC’s programmes in East Africa. In2009, we trained 40 health workers and197 health volunteers to provide basichealth care in Liberia.

Like many other African countries, Liberia lacks

comprehensive healthcare. Of the 325 health

facilities available before the war, about 95% were

partially or completely destroyed. There are only 51

Liberian physicians to serve a population of almost

3.5 million, and life expectancy at birth is only 45

years. In combination with the generally poor health

status of most Liberians, caused by poverty (in 2007,

48% of the Liberian population lived in extreme

poverty), access to formal health facilities is

impossible for most people.

Healthcare and microfinance are inter-related. Poor

women who finance their small businesses through

microloans cannot afford to be ill – they have to work

every day to make enough money to feed their

families. If anyone is sick, food money is spent on

costly medicines and income is lost through non-

working days.

In order to make primary healthcare available to the

microfinance communities we work with, BRAC

launched its Health Programme in Liberia in 2008.

BRAC identified and trained 197 women from our

microfinance groups to become Community Health

Volunteers, or CHVs, and employed 40 women as

Community Health Workers (CHWs) to supervise

them. The women we select for the CHV training

show a sincere interest in the role, have been

recommended by their microfinance officer, and have

a business that gives them time to do rounds. They

are the central point of contact for the health

concerns of the microfinance group members, their

family members and the wider community. Each CHV

has the overall responsibility for 150-200 households

in her area that she will visit every month – all within

one kilometre from her home. CHVs earn a small

income from selling health care products to other

members, such as condoms, oral rehydration salts,

sanitary napkins, hygienic soap, water purification

and some medicine.

BRAC’s Health Programme takes a multi-prongedapproach to reduce the health risks for poorcommunities in Liberia. We focus on the prevention ofmalaria, tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS, the reductionof infant and under-five mortality rates, and increasingaccessibility to health by taking health care to thedoorstep of the people.

Community Health Worker Comfort Williams Beah,37, started as a CHV and was promoted to hercurrent position in March 2009. “I dropped out ofschool in twelfth grade, and started my own tailoringshop. I always dreamed of helping people andbecoming a nurse, but could not pay for formaleducation. From BRAC I learnt about commondiseases and how to treat them. When I became aCHW, they gave me more training. I am very excitedBRAC has come in and believes in my abilities. I lovemy work and I am helping people, just like I alwayswanted to.”

A Community HealthVolunteer sells medicalsupplies to women attendinga Health Forum in Matadi,Monrovia.

PROGRAMMEHIGHLIGHTS

“Accessible and affordable health services in Liberia are almost non-existent and generalknowledge about hygiene and common diseases is limited. By visiting people at their homes,BRAC’s Community Health Volunteers play a vital role in the improvement of the country’soverall health status.” Dr. Arif Sobhan, Health Programme Technical Manager, BRAC Liberia


100%

197

coverage achieved by our new HealthProgramme of the first ten microfinancebranches in Liberia and ten new branchesstarted in September.

39,000+households were covered byBRAC’s home visits and4,283 patients were referredto the nearest establishedhealth facility for furthertreatment and testing.

6,557Community health forums organised by ourCHWs which were attended by more than48,000 participants and covered issues such asmalaria, immunisation, TB and HIV/AIDSprevention and hygiene.

Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) trained by December 2009 and 40Community Health Workers who supervise the CHVs in their work to deliverprimary health services and health education to microfinance borrowers and theircommunities. All of them are women.

The BRAC Liberia Essential Healthcare Programme(EHC) is a scalable model of community health care.

The overall goal of the EHC Programme is to improvehealth conditions and increase access to healthservices by providing basic health services incommunities where BRAC has an establishedmicrofinance group. One member of each BRACborrowing group is designated and trained as aCommunity Health Volunteer. CHVs serve the healthneeds of the entire community, with particularattention to poor women and children.

Programme Objectives

n To increase reproductive health care services by

raising awareness, ensuring ante natal care

(ANC) and post natal care (PNC) visits, and

facility-based deliveries;

n To reduce the incidence of malaria, especially

among pregnant women and children, by

enhancing control and prevention;

n To bring positive behavioural change for

prevention of HIV/AIDS and ensuring access to

HIV/AIDS services through community

sensitisation and participation;

n To develop a community-based approach to

increase and sustain TB case detection and cure

rate as per the Millennium Development Goals;

n To improve basic sanitation and hygiene by

bringing behavioural change and ensuring access

to safe water and latrines;

Women attend one of over6,000 Health Forums inMatadi where they discusshealth issues such asimmunisation, malaria,TBand HIV/AIDS prevention,maternal health, familyplanning and hygiene.


BRAC’s Community Health Workers and Volunteers serve thehealth needs of the entire community, with particular attentionto poor women and children

1. Health and nutrition education

2. Safe water, sanitation, and hygiene

3. Family planning

4. Immunisation and Vitamin A supplementation

5. Basic curative care

6. Respiratory tract infections (e.g. pneumonia)

7. Pregnancy-related care

8. Malaria control

9. Tuberculosis control

10. HIV/AIDS

Ten ComponentsBRAC Essential Health Care

n To mobilise women & disseminate information

through village meetings and home visits;

n To collaborate with the Government to further

facilitate and strengthen the implementation of

national tuberculosis, malaria and immunisation

programmes.

PROGRAMME COMPONENTS

Reproductive Health Care

One of BRAC’s primary concerns is to improve

reproductive health care awareness and service

utilisation. To fulfil this objective, CHVs identify

pregnant women during their household visits and

refer them to nearby government or non-government

health facilities. The CHVs raise awareness of

pregnancy care and pre-natal danger signs, and

follow up to ensure that ANC and PNC visits to

health facilities are made.

The CHV keeps a check on whether her clients have

taken their Tetanus Toxoid (TT) doses and completed

the Intermittent Presumptive Therapy (IPT) course,

which is a promising treatment against childhood

malaria in Africa. She also raises awareness on the

importance of Voluntary Counselling and Testing

(VCT) for HIV/AIDS.

Malaria Control

During household visits, the CHV identifies suspected

cases of malaria and refers the patients to the

nearest government health centres. She follows up to

determine test results and see if the patient is taking

their anti-malarial medication. A relative of the patient

is put in charge of supervising the drug intake

according to their prescription. The CHV then

conducts a follow-up visit to ensure the patient’s

recovery and to make sure that the patient has not

developed further complications. The CHV keeps

records of this information in her household visit

register.

TB Control

CHVs implement a well-tested community-based

approach for increasing and sustaining TB case

detection and treatment.

During household visits, CHVs ask simple questions

related to suspected TB cases (based on

symptoms). When a suspected TB victim is

identified, the CHV motivates that person to be

tested at a nearby health facility. She explains the

dangers that TB can pose to the sick person as well

as the rest of the family. She then follows up on the

patient to determine the test results. If the patient

tests positive, the CHV can also act as a Direct

Observation Treatment Short Course (DOTS) agent.

DOTS involves second party observation of a TB-

infected person taking a prescribed course of

medication so that the patient does not default on

taking their medications, which results in drug

resistance.

Family Planning

During regular household visits, the CHV mobilises

and motivates women to use modern methods of

contraception. She provides clients with condoms.

For other temporary and/or permanent methods,

couples are referred to nearest healthcare facilities.

Community Health Initiatives

BRAC takes a multi-pronged approach to community

health education. We offer community health forums

on issues such as malaria, immunisation, TB and HIV

prevention, maternal health, family planning, and

water, sanitation and hygiene.

Basic Curative Services

CHVs are trained to diagnose and treat some basic

ailments such as diarrhoea, dysentery, common cold,

helminthiasis, anaemia, ringworm, scabies,

hyperacidity and angular stomatitis. They refer

individuals with more complicated conditions to local

public and private health facilities.

CHVs earn a small income by selling over-the-

counter medicines and health commodities to

patients and community members.

Liberian mothers likeMonrovia resident KatherineLee benefit from visits fromBRAC’s many CommunityHealth Volunteers.


“Before I joined [BRAC], I did my BBA in Public Administration and was working for a small community empowerment projectat the same time. I became a surveyor for BRAC and was then selected to become a credit officer. I was promoted to branchmanager soon afterwards and am reallyenjoying my work. If I left BRAC tomorrow, I would really have a lot ofexperience to take to a new organisation.

Elove Gbuapaye (30) is Branch Manager of the Paynesville office in Monrovia.

livelihood development services

recruitmenttraining

and research


BRAC has many young committed staffimplementing our work in the heart oflocal communities across Liberia. ByDecember 2009, we were employing161 Liberian people, 71% of whom areyoung Liberian women in their 20s or30s looking for the fast career trajectorythat BRAC offers our employees.

Jobs and volunteer positions that were advertised

and filled in 2009 included microfinance branch

managers, credit officers, health, agriculture and

livestock extension officers and supervisors, livestock

volunteers, and Community Health Workers and

volunteers. In addition, BRAC engaged 15

Bangladeshi expatriates and sector specialists to

oversee the management of our different

programmes and ensure that BRAC International’s

extensive operational expertise was available for the

benefit of the Liberian programmes.

Often a woman is hired as a credit officer for our

Microfinance Programme and can quickly progress to

become branch manager, such as Elove (see

previous page). Some women start as volunteers and

are promoted to paid positions.

TRAINING AND CAPACITYBUILDINGTraining is the backbone of BRAC’s programmes in

Liberia. As BRAC hires new staff, many of them

straight out of college, it is critical to provide them

with sufficient orientation and training. BRAC believes

in constantly investing in building the capacity of

existing staff, helping them to learn new skills and

grow within the organisation.

Training New StaffIn 2009, 160 staff members attended BRAC training

courses in Liberia. Most of the new staff will be

working as credit officers and community organisers,

spending almost 80% of their time running

microfinance meetings, community health forums,

awareness raising activities, and undertaking survey

work and monitoring. All the training is participatory

and includes brainstorming, large and small group

discussions, case study analysis, and presentations.

Training is also given to the area and branch

managers, programme officers, trainers and

community organisers for the different programmes.

We offer two types of training: operational training

and training on management and development

theory. The training needs of the programmes are

being continually assessed with frequent field visits

by the team of permanent trainers and the wider pool

of trainers.

To ensure our staff and volunteers are always kept

up-to-date on the latest developments in their fields

and provide the communities they work in with this

information, BRAC organises monthly refresher

trainings for all its Community Health Volunteers,

livestock volunteers and agriculture extension

workers. For our managers, we hold monthly staff

meetings at our country office, and for our

supervisors at their respective area offices.

All BRAC courses are conducted by professional

facilitators who have considerable experience in

training and capacity building in Bangladesh and

internationally.

BRAC Liberia researchdivision, Monrovia. AlieuFofana (right) talks withMohammed Abdus Salam,BRAC Liberia CountryManager (left).

RECRUITMENT

Microfinance Management Course 50

Basic Training for Community Health Volunteers 275

Disease-Specific Training for Community Health Volunteers 197

Basic Training for Community Health Workers 40

TB Training for Community Health Volunteers 35

Basic Training for Poultry and Livestock Volunteers 40

Broiler Rearer Training 6

Entrepreneur cum Agriculture Extension Worker Training 50

Farmer Training for Model Farmers 1,875

Branch Agriculture Extension Worker Supervisor Training 10

Branch Livestock Volunteer Supervisor Training 10

No. of participants 2009

MONITORING, RESEARCH ANDEVALUATION

BRAC Liberia benefits from a regional Research and

Evaluation Unit for West Africa that BRAC established

in Freetown, Sierra Leone, in July 2009. The unit

provides analytical support to BRAC Sierra Leone

and BRAC Liberia and is responsible for small scale

operational research for the betterment of the various

programmes in West Africa, such as microfinance,

health, agriculture and livestock by giving quick

feedback. It also assesses the impact of BRAC’s

programmes in both Sierra Leone and Liberia. The

unit is comprised of five researchers and four data-

entry operators who are responsible for storing all

primary data into the computer following specific

guidelines.

Both Sierra Leone and Liberia have poor statistical

data as a consequence of the civil war. All

information is outdated, whereas the programmes

require recent information to serve the community

best. The Research and Evaluation Unit assists the

programmes in collecting census data from the

community to identify the programmes’ target people

and ensure data is systemic and reliable. The unit

also stores all primary data electronically and

provides necessary information to the respective

programmes.

In 2009, we completed four research studies and

BRAC continues to monitor and evaluate its

programmes in the region. Additionally, the Research

and Evaluation unit has planned an evaluation study

both in Sierra Leone and Liberia to assess the impact

after one year of programme activities. The study is

currently in the design stage which is expected to be

completed by March 2010. In early 2010, we will

recruit a number of Liberians to support our country

programme and the Research Evaluation Unit as data

entry operators.

Trainees participating in aCHV training session atBRAC’s GardnersvilleBranch in Monrovia.

Both Sierra Leone and Liberia have poor statistical data asa consequence of the civil war. All information is outdated,whereas the programmes require recent information. TheResearch and Evaluation Unit assists the programmes incollecting census data from the community to identify theprogrammes’ target people and ensure data is systemicand reliable.

Felicia Kargbo, Area

Health Extension Officer,

conducts CHV Training

at BRAC’s Gardnersville

Branch in Monrovia.

INVESTORSThe BRAC programmes in Liberia were launchedthrough a unique partnership with the SorosEconomic Development Fund, Open Society InstituteWest Africa, Omidyar Network and Humanity United.In addition to supporting BRAC Liberia through grantfunds, the Omidyar Network and the Soros EconomicDevelopment Fund are active investors in the BRACLiberia Microfinance Company, with a 49% equitystake and representation on its governing board. Ofthe nine members of the finance company board, fiveare BRAC representatives, two are from Open SocietyInstitute West Africa, one from Soros EconomicDevelopment Fund, and one from Omidyar Network.

This partnership signifies joint ownership andcommitment, and is a vote of confidence in BRAC’sapproach towards development as it expands intopoor and conflict-ridden countries in West Africa. Asco-owners and investors of economic developmentand social change in Liberia, the Omidyar Network andSoros represent anchor support to BRAC’s nascentoperations, thereby creating leverage and attractingadditional investment. Most recently, the UnitedNations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) providedgrant support to the Liberia Microfinance Company.

Working with the Government of Liberia

Since we started our operations in Liberia in 2008,BRAC has developed very strong ties with theGovernment of Liberia. Our programmes support thecountry’s Poverty Reduction Strategy, which is to beimplemented between 2009 and 2012 but will extendbeyond this period. The Poverty Reduction Strategy(PRS) aims at reducing poverty in Liberia through,among others, the stimulation of rapid, inclusive andsustainable economic growth.

Some of the collaboration initiatives between BRACand the Government of Liberia include:

Microfinance: Before starting our microfinanceactivities, we ensured the approval from and supportof the Ministries concerned. The Ministry of ForeignAffairs issued the Articles of Incorporation, and weregistered BRAC Liberia Microfinance Company Ltd.with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Health: BRAC obtained permission from the Ministryof Health and Social Welfare to run the EssentialHealth Care Programme in the country andcollaborates closely with the Ministry by participatingin partner meetings and national events andcampaigns on TB, malaria, polio and yellow fever.

partnerships

BRAC also collaborates with the County health teamsand took part in critical workshops for thedevelopment of a national health strategy.

Agriculture, Livestock and Poultry: For ourAgriculture, Livestock and Poultry Programme, BRACensures maximum involvement and streamlining withthe Government of Liberia’s policies by taking part inthe Agriculture coordination meetings which are heldmonthly and participating in strategic planningworkshops for the agriculture sector.

Before starting activities for our Health and Agriculture,Livestock and Poultry Programmes, Articles ofIncorporation for the NGO BRAC Liberia were issuedby the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the NGO wasregistered by the Ministry of Planning and EconomicAffairs, and accreditation was given by the Ministry ofHealth and Social Welfare and the Ministry ofAgriculture. We provide progress reports to therespective Ministries on a regular basis.

Other CollaborationBRAC strives to ensure collaboration with keyorganisations and institutions in its areas of operation tocreate the greatest possible impact with itsprogrammes. Since the beginning of our operations in

microfinance, we have shared our programmeknowledge with organisations such as LEAP andLiberty Finance, the Central Bank of Liberia, AccessBank and EcoBank as well as UNDP and UNCDF. Forour Agriculture Programme, we consult with CARI, theCentral Agricultural Research Institute, which is the onlyLiberian Government owned and operated researchentity on agricultural matters.

“This roadmap for our future [...] reflectsthe inputs of citizens from all of Liberia’s15 counties [...] Reducing poverty is notsomething this government can doalone. It is something we must all do [...]We ask [our development partners] torefocus their policies and programmes inalignment with the strategy.”

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on the PovertyReduction Strategy


Audited

FinancialStatementsOf BRAC LiberiaYear Ended 31 December 2009

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BRAC Liberia map


BRAC InternationalOperations

A

Sierra Leone

Liberia

Initiated:2008

Programme Focus:Microfinance, health, agriculture,poultry and livestock programmes

Microcredit Group Members:13,325

Initiated:2008

Programme Focus:Microfinance, health, agriculture,poultry and livestock programmes


I

Afghanistan

Pakistan

Sri Lanka

TanzaniaUganda

Initiated:2002

Programme Focus:Education, Health, EnterpriseDevelopment, Microfinance,Capacity Development andNational Solidarity Programmes


Initiated:2007

Programme Focus:Microfinance and Education

Microcredit Group Members: 62,495

Initiated:2005

Programme Focus: Sustainable livelihood and long-term rehabilitation programme,microfinance and strengthening thecapacity of local non-governmentorganisations

Microcredit Group Members:1,00,402

Initiated:2006

Programme Focus: Microfinance, livelihoodand business development,agriculture, and essentialcommunity health care

Microcredit Group Members: 112,709

Initiated:2007

Programme Focus:Income Generation for VulnerableGroup Development Programme(IGVGDP), microfinance, education,health and agriculture



Programme Focus:Microfinance, health, agriculture,poultry and livestock, empowermentand livelihood for adolescents, andyouth education

Initiated:2006

Southern Sudan

Programme Update as of December 2009

Branch Managers

Credit Officers

Accounts Assistants

Area Accounts Assistants

Community Health Workers

Health Trainer

Area Health Extension Officers

Branch Agriculture Extension Supervisors

Area Agriculture Extension Officers

Branch Livestock Volunteer Supervisors

Area Livestock Extension Officer

Support Staff

Liberia Staff(as of 31 December, 2009)

Total number of Counties covered 6 (out of 15)

Total number of branches 20

Total number of area offices 4

Country Offices 2

Liberian staff 161

Expatriate staff 15

Programme outreach

Agriculture Extension Workers trained 50

Model farmers trained 1,875

Livestock Volunteers trained 40

No. of birds vaccinated 11,299

Broiler rearers supported 6

Agriculture, Livestock and Poultry (since 2009)

Microloan groups 404 (10 branches)

Microloan group members 10,092 (10 branches)

Borrowers (current) 8,033

Microloans disbursement (cumulative) USD 1,667,389

Microloans outstanding (as of Dec 2009) USD 1,175,760

Average loan size USD 208

Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) trained 197

Community Health Workers (CHWs) trained 40

No. of households visited monthly by CHVs (est.) 35,000

No. of community health meetings held 6,557

No. of health meeting participants 48,429

Patients treated by CHVs 13,175

Microfinance (since June 2009) Health (since 2009)

51

1019

10

10

4

2

2

1

40 10

2

Concept & Design: Mahbub/Drik

Photography: BRAC/Jake Lyell

Production: Drik, Bangladesh (www.drik.net)

BRAC International

Aminul AlamExecutive Director

Imran MatinDeputy Executive Director

BRAC Head Office

BRAC Centre75 MohakhaliDhaka 1212, BangladeshTel: + 880-2 9881265-72Fax: +880-2 8823542, 8823614Email: [email protected]

BRAC Liberia

Mohammed Abdus SalamCountry Manager

Allison Street, Congo TownP.O. Box 2549, MonroviaLiberiaTel: +231 (0) 6-589539+231 (0) 77-589539www.brac.net

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2009 BRAC Annual Report Liberia

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