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LIBERIA “Summary of the Six-Month Review of the Results-Focused Transitional Framework” Dear RFTF Review Meeting Participants, Thank you for participating in the meeting that was held in September in Washington to assess the performance o f Liberia’s Results-Focused Transitional Framework (RFTF), six months into implementation. The meeting, which was co-sponsored by the United Nations Development Program, the US Government and the World Bank, produced a fi-uitful discussion about the progress achieved thus far under the RFTF and a number o f suggestions about ways to accelerate progress going forward. The event was very well attended, with a top-level delegation from the National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL), political and technical representatives from 13 donor governments, the European Commission, ECOWAS , most United Nations agencies, and several representatives o f international NGOs. The Honorable C. Gyude Bryant, Chairman o f the NTGL, delivered opening remarks, followed by key figures in the international peacekeeping and reconstruction effort in Liberia. A transcription o f these opening remarks is attached, together with the meeting’s program and complete proceedings. In the course o f plenary sessions and sector-specific break-out sessions, we took stock o f existing challenges and proposed forward-looking revisions to the RFTF. I have summarized below the recommendations that emerged from these discussions: 9 issues and challenges; the proposed incorporation o f the CAP’ into the RFTF was also generally accepted. The RFTF needs to be revised by early 2005 in order to incorporate emerging sector > immediately address the integration and resettlement o f Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), refugees and returnees. An integrated Rehabilitation and Reintegration (RR) Master Plan needs to be prepared to > particularly with regard to job creation. Inter-linkages between RR and the rehabilitation o f infrastructure was recognized, 9 Cross-cutting issues, including gender, the environment, human rights and shelter should be accorded increased prominence as the RFTF undergoes revision. Appropriate programmatic priorities and budgetary allocations should be established under the RFTF’s clusters, to ensure adequate implementation and reporting. CAP - Consolidated Appeal Process of the humanitarian community in Liberia. Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized
Transcript
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LIBERIA

“Summary of the Six-Month Review of the Results-Focused Transitional Framework”

Dear RFTF Review Meeting Participants,

Thank you for participating in the meeting that was held in September in Washington to assess the performance o f Liberia’s Results-Focused Transitional Framework (RFTF), six months into implementation. The meeting, which was co-sponsored by the United Nations Development Program, the U S Government and the World Bank, produced a fi-uitful discussion about the progress achieved thus far under the RFTF and a number o f suggestions about ways to accelerate progress going forward. The event was very we l l attended, with a top-level delegation from the National Transitional Government o f Liberia (NTGL), political and technical representatives f rom 13 donor governments, the European Commission, ECOWAS , most United Nations agencies, and several representatives o f international NGOs.

The Honorable C. Gyude Bryant, Chairman o f the NTGL, delivered opening remarks, followed by key figures in the international peacekeeping and reconstruction effort in Liberia. A transcription o f these opening remarks i s attached, together with the meeting’s program and complete proceedings.

In the course o f plenary sessions and sector-specific break-out sessions, we took stock o f existing challenges and proposed forward-looking revisions to the RFTF. I have summarized below the recommendations that emerged from these discussions:

9 issues and challenges; the proposed incorporation o f the CAP’ into the RFTF was also generally accepted.

The RFTF needs to be revised by early 2005 in order to incorporate emerging sector

> immediately address the integration and resettlement o f Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), refugees and returnees.

An integrated Rehabilitation and Reintegration (RR) Master Plan needs to be prepared to

> particularly with regard to j ob creation.

Inter-linkages between RR and the rehabilitation o f infrastructure was recognized,

9 Cross-cutting issues, including gender, the environment, human rights and shelter should be accorded increased prominence as the RFTF undergoes revision. Appropriate programmatic priorities and budgetary allocations should be established under the RFTF’s clusters, to ensure adequate implementation and reporting.

CAP - Consolidated Appeal Process o f the humanitarian community in Liberia.

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9 critical and needs to receive adequate attention in the revision o f the RFTF.

Capacity-building targeted to government, the private sector and c iv i l society remains

9 are severely under-funded.

A number o f RFTF clusters, in particular Clusters 7 (Agriculture) and 8 (Infrastructure),

9 Overall, the rate at which pledges are being converted to actual contributions i s satisfactory. Donors were encouraged to honor outstanding pledges and provide additional resources to bridge funding gaps in certain clusters. N e w resources are required to address the challenge posed by the total number o f ex-combatants, which i s higher than originally envisaged.

9 contributions from donors to the RFTF needs to become more reliable.

The financial tracking system used to monitor the disbursement o f pledges and

P explored carefully as the RFTF is revised.

The possibility o f integrating the RR component o f Cluster 2 into Cluster 3 needs to be

9 revised RFTF, from an exclusively results-oriented perspective.

In general, identified linkages between and among clusters wil l need to be reflected in the

9 at most levels o f the NTGL and RFTF Implementation and Monitoring Committee (RIMCO).

I t was accepted that planning, implementation and management capacity are inadequate

9 behavior by the NTGL was underlined.

The importance o f improving expenditure controls and doing away with unethical

9 the electoral process to ensure a smooth transition to constitutional rule.

There is a need to prioritize support for the National Elections Commission (NEC) and

9 The Judiciary branch requires additional support in the run-up to national elections.

9 The function, perfonnance targets and modus operandi o f the RIMCO Support Office (RSO) and R I M C O Working Committees (RWCs) need to be streamlined and rationalized so that the performance o f these units may be measured as a function o f the RFTF’s overall success.

Overall, participants expressed satisfaction over the progress achieved with RFTF implementation for the first, challenging, six-month implementation period. However, they stressed that much more needs to be done in order to attain both the partially unmet first semester and the ambitious second semester benchmarks in the run-up to the one-year review meeting, to be held around April 2005.

Mats Karlsson Country Director for Liberia Wor ld Bank

*. 11

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ts-Focused

The World Bank September 24,2004

Main Complex Building, Room MC-2-800

Time

8:30 a.m. - 9:OO a.m.

9:OO a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

10:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

~

10:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

11:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m. - 12:OO p.m.

12:OO p.m. - 12:15 p.m.

12:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. t 2:30 p.m. - 3:OO p.m.

Event

Meeting o f Rapporteurs

Welcome and Opening Remarks

9 Mr. Callisto Madavo, Vice President, Africa Region, World Bank > Hon. C. Gyude Bryant, Chairman, NTGL 9 Mr. Jacques Paul Klein, SRSG, UNMIL > Mr. Andrew S. Natsios, Adminstrator, USAID F Mr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Executive Secretary o f ECOWAS (Transmission not

P Mr. David Nabarro, Technical Coordinator, UNDG submitted)

RFTF Implementation 8z Progress, February - August 2004 Moderator: Mr. Harry Greaves, Chairman, Council o f Economic Advisors, NTGL

> Hon. Christian Herbert, Secretary o f RIMCO and Minister o f Planning and Economic Affairs QM

Report on Fiscal Developments in Liberia (This session was not held)

Coffee Break

Reflecting Humanitarian Needs in the RFTF and the Way Forward

Moderutor: Mr. David Nabarro, Technical Coordinator, UNDG F Ms. Margareta Wahlstrom, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs

and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Pransmission not submitted) 9 M s . N icky Smith, Programme Director, Intemational Rescue Committee and INGO

Representative on RlMCO 9 QM

Objectives and Outputs for the Breakout Sessions

> Mrs. Sedia Bangoura, Programme Director-Designate, R IMCO Support Office

Working Lunch and Breakout Sessions (See BREAKOUT SESSION)

Rapporteurs’ Meeting (Room MC C1-120)

Moderator: Mr. Luigi Giovine, Sr. Country Officer for Liberia, World Bank

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4:OO p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

1 5:30 p.m.- 5:45 p.m.

5:45 p.m. - 6:OO p.m.

~

Event

Rapporteurs’ Reports to Plenary - MC-2-800

Comments and Discussion of Rapporteurs’ Reports

Moderator: Mr. Mats Karlsson, World Bank Country Director for Liberia

Summary and Conclusions

9 Hon. Christian Herbert, Secretary o f RIMCO, and Minister o f Planning and Economic Affairs

Closing Remarks

9 Mr. Mats Karlsson, World Bank Country Director for Liberia

Reception to Follow (MC Atrium)

2

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RFTF LIBERIA

LIBERIA

Results-Focused Transition Framework (RF’TF)

Washington, D.C. September 24,2004

List of Participants

Canada

Mr. Allen Brown Counselor (Political) Canadian Embassy

China

Mr. Zhongnan Wang First Secretary (Commercial) Embassy o f the People’s Republic o f China

Ms. Youli Wang Third Secretary (Commercial) Embassy o f the People’s Republic o f China

Denmark

Mr. Jette Lund Counselor (Development) Royal Danish Embassy

Ghana

H.E. Ernest Kwame Asiedu Amoa-Amuah Ambassador Embassy o f Ghana

Mr. Joseph C. Ackon Minister Counselor, Embassy o f Ghana

Ireland

Ms. Grainne O’Neill Development Specialist Department o f Foreign Affairs

3

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RFTF LIBERIA

M r . Tim Doyle First Secretary Embassy o f Ireland

Japan

M r . Daiju Takahashi Second Secretary Political Section Embassy o f Japan

Liberia

Hon. C. Gyude Bryant Chairman National Transitional Government o f Liberia (NTGL)

Hon. Christian Herbert Minister o f Planning and Economic Affairs & Secretary o f RIMCO

Hon. Thomas Nimely Yaya Minister o f Foreign Affairs

M r . Harry Greaves Economic Advisor to the Chairman, NTGL

M r . 0. Natty B. Davis Co-Chair Council o f Economic Advisor

Mrs. Amelia Ward Co-Chair Council o f Economic Advisor

M r . Frances Johnson-Morris Chairperson, National Election Commission, NTGL

Morocco

M r . Ariad Mohammed Deputy Chief o f Mission Embassy of Morocco

4

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RFTF LIBERIA

T h e Netherlands

Mr. Andre Westerink First Secretary WB/IDB Liaison Royal Netherlands Embassy Economic Division

Norway

Ms. Merethe Nergaard Minister Counsellor Royal Norwegian Embassy

The Russian Federation

M r . Vadim N. Grishn Sr. Counselor Embassy o f Russia

Mr. Peter K I ichev Counselor Embassy o f Russia

Sierra Leone

Hon. Momodou Koroma Minister o f Foreign Affairs, Sierra Leone

Spain

M r . Borja Montesinos Counselor Spanish Embassy

Sweden

Mr. Gunnar Alden First Secretary Political Section

M r . Alf Eliasson Swedish Intemational Development Cooperation Agency

5

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RFTF LIBERIA

United Kingdom

Ms. Clare Thomas First Secretary British Embassy

United States

H.E. John Blaney Ambassador to Liberia

Ms. Pamela E. Bridgewater Deputy Assistant Secretary

U.S. Department o f State for Afr ican Affairs

M r . Michael R. Arietti Director, West Afncan Affairs US. Department o f State M r . Peter O’Donohue International Forest Policy Lead U.S. Department o f State

Ms. Margaret Mckelvey Director, P W A F R U.S. Department o f State

Ms. Carol-Anne G a n g West A fnca Program Officer U.S. Department o f State

Ms. Marleen Breen Financial Economist U.S. Department o f State

M r . Jared Fishman Program Officer US. Department o f State

M r . Jan McAlpine US. Department o f State

M r . Lary E. Andre Jr. U.S. Department o f State

M r . David Loevinger Deputy Assistant Secretary for Africa, M idd le East and Asia US. Treasury

6

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FWTF LIBERIA

Mr. Alex Severens Liberia Team Leader US. Treasury

M r . Lazarre Potier Financial/Economic Coordinator for Liberia U.S. Treasury

AFRICARE

M r . Julius E. Coles President

ECOWAS

Mr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas Executive Secretary o f ECOWAS

H.E. Mr . Francis Blain Special Representative o f the Executive Secretary o f ECOWAS

European Commission

Ms. Vlassia Vassikeri

International Refugee Committee Liberia IIRC)

Ms. Nicola Smith Country Director for Liberia

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

M r . Finn Ruda Deputy Head o f ICRC Delegation

Oxfam America

M r . John Ruthrauff Policy Advisor

Mr. Heather Alexander Researcher

7

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RFTF LIBERIA

RF’TF Imdementation and Monitoring Committee (RIMCO)

Mrs. Sedia Bangoura Programme Director-Designate

Save the Children Alliance (SCA)

Ms. Gore1 Bogarde UN Representative SCA

Food and Agriculture Organization (FA01

M r . Dominique Burgeon Liaison Officer FA0 Liaison Office with the U N

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

M r . Arnim Schwidrowski Mission Chief for Liberia

M r . Jiro Honda Economist

M r . Wayne Mitchell Economist

M r . Abayomi Atoloye Liberia Desk Officer

M r . Saji Thomas Economist

Ms. Liliana Schumacher Senior Economist

M r . John Mafararikwa Sr. Advisor

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

M s . Angela Kearney Country Representative

M r . Simon Strachan Senior Advisor

8

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RFTF LIBERIA

United Nations Development Group CrnVD G)

Mr. David Nabarro Technical Coordinator, UNDG

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Mr. Steve Ursino UNDP Country Director in Liberia

Mr. Kamil Kamaluddeen UNDP Sr. Economist for Liberia

Ms. Marie Dimond Programme Advisor, UNDP/ BCPR

M s . Marybeth McKeever Coordination Officer

United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operation 0 PO)

M s . Cherrie-Anne Vincent Africa Division

United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization nnvE SCO)

Mr. Jo Hironaka Liaison Officer

United Nations Environment Programme (mvE P)

Mr. Pekka Haavisto Chairman o f UNEP Liberia Task Force

Mr. Grant Wroe-Street Programme Officer

Mr. Jussi Ojala Research Assistant

United Nations Population FundNJNFPA)

Ms. Priya Marwah Programme Analyst Humanitarian Response Unit

9

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RFTF LIBERIA

United Nations High Commission for Refugee (UNHCR)

Mr. Andrew Mbogori Sr. Reintegration Advisor Monrovia United Nations Development Fund for Women m F E M )

Ms. Ainu Liyambo Programme Specialist

United Nations Industrial DeveloDment Organization (UNIDO)

Mr. AsifHasnain Post Crisis Manager

United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL)

Mr. Jacques Paul Klein Special Representative to Secretary General

Mr. Satya Tripathi Head o f Planning

United Nations Office o f the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs WNOCHA)

Ms. Margareta Wahlstrom Assistant Secretary General, Humanitarian Affairs & Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator

Ms. Ahunna Ezikonwa Head, Africa Section

United Nations Office for Proiect Services WNOPS)

Mr. Maarten A. Poolman Country Coordinator, Liberia

United States Aeencv for International Development (USAID)

Mr. Andrew S. Natsios Administrator

Mr. Frank Young Deputy Assistant Administrator

10

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RFTF LIBERIA

M r . Bill Gawelink Deputy Assistant Administrator

Ms. Carol Grigsby Director, Off ice o f West African Affairs

M r . Wilbur Thomas Designate Liberia Mission Director

M s . Angela Reading Act ing Liberia Desk Officer

Ms. Lydia Hal l Act ing Liberia Desk Officer

M s . Denise Dauphinais Senior Field Advisor

M r . Lowell Lynch Liberia Cooridnator

M r . Sharon Pauling Sr. Advisor to NGO’s Participation and Strategy Development

Ms. Madeline Williams Democracy Specialist

M r . Scott Bode Natural Resources Advisor

World Food Programme WFP)

M r . Kenn Crossley Relations Officer

World Health Organization WHO)

Dr. Xavier Leus Director to the WB and IMF

World Bank

M r . Louis A. Kasekende Executive Director for Liberia

M r . Serign Cham Advisor to the ED

11

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WTF LIBERIA

M r . Callisto Madavo Vice President Afr ica Region

M r . Mats Karlsson Country Director for Liberia

Ms. Pilar Maisterra Country Program Coordinator for Liberia

M r . Luigi Giovine Sr. Country Officer for Liberia

Mr. Kazuhide Kuroda Sr. Social Development Specialist

M r . Michael Diliberti Sr. Country Officer

Ms. Kathryn Casson Adviser

Mr. Miguel Saponara Consultant

Mu. Wiebe Moes Sr. Sanitary Engineer

Ms. Beldina Auma-Owuor Sr. Communications Officer

Ms. Jean Edillon Sr. Program Assistant

M r . Krislzna Thapa Team Assistant

Mr. Cyrille Momo On Staff Agency

12

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Liberia: Results-Focused Transition Framework (RFTF) Review Meeting The World Bank, Friday, September 24,2005

Mr. Callisto Madavo Vice President, Africa Region, World Bank

Hon. Chairman of the National Transitional Government o f Liberia, Mr. Gyude Bryant, Special Representative of the Secretary General, Mr Jacques Klein, Ministers, Representatives o f the Donor Community, and all o f you working for the good o f Liberia,

1. Welcome. I am pleased to co-host, along with the United Nations, this important meeting. W e wil l today review progress made by the National Transitional Government o f Liberia and i t s partners since the International Reconstruction Conference was held in N e w York in February. W e agreed then on a Results-Focused Transition Framework to support Liberia after the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. We agreed to put in place a Monrovia-based implementation and monitoring arrangement and to fol low up every six months. W e are doing exactly that.

2. Let me start by thanking you, Mr. Chairman, for leading your team in this major effort to not only rebuild Liberia, but to lay the basis for its transformation. I know that you have regularly chaired the meetings o f NTGL and the donor community under the coordinating umbrella o f RIMCO. Through i t s initiative and the hard work o f its support teams, we have a comprehensive report o n the table which will form the basis o f today’s review. I look forward to see strong Liberian leadership in driving the change your people so desperately needs.

3. Le t me also thank Jacques Kle in for leading the United Nations efforts to bring security, humanitarian rel ief and the foundations o f a post-conflict strategy to Liberia. Thanks to you and al l your colleagues, we have been able to move ahead with that common strategy. I know that together with the Chairman and his team you held meetings in N e w York earlier this week to discuss the progress in securing peace and preparing the elections. W e look forward to hearing f rom you.

4. are taking: ECOWAS, f i rst o f all, for i t s strong regional leadership. I recognize the presence o f Dr. Ibn Chambas, i t s Executive Secretary, and the representative o f its chairman, Ambassador Blain. I look forward to hear more about the efforts to bring stability to the sub-region. W e are also very much honored by the presence o f Andrew Natsios, the Administrator o f USAID, the United States playing such a key role in Liberia. And o f course our friends from the European Union. K e y to our partnership i s the United Nations Development Group, represented by David Nabarro. The U ” s

Le t me thank also the partners in this process, al l o f you, for the jo int approach we

13

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humanitarian side i s represented by Ms. Margareta Wahlstrom. And o f course, I want to refer to our friends from the IMF, in the form o f Mission Chief Arnim Schwidrowski. Let m e thank al l o f you, and al l present in this room, representing many countries and donors, both governmental and non-governmental, for being here today. W e are having an extraordinarily good turnout, and an important task at hand. You al l ho ld the key to progress.

5. progress, and that to me means three questions: how far have we come, where are the challenges, and how do we meet them? Let me say a word o n each.

So let us now turn to our business. W e are meeting quite simply to review

6. First, how far have we come? Others will speak to the progress on security, humanitarian relief, disarmament and demobilization and the return o f refugees and internally displaced. Let me only say that I am fully behind an approach that looks comprehensively at these issues, together with the economic and social challenges o f rebuilding and transforming Liberia. I am particularly pleased that this meeting later will discuss how humanitarian needs can be reflected in the RFTF.

7. The very purpose o f the Results-Focused Transitional Framework i s o f course to enable us to j o i n efforts across the spectrum o f tasks and mandates, align strengths, make priorities based o n what is important and what we assess the real capacity to be, and thus achieve results more quickly. I t i s my distinct view that the RFTF is providing that framework. That is innovation and progress in itself. I look very much forward to hearing the report o f Mr. Christian Herbert, Secretary o f IUMCO, o n how implementation has proceeded. I also look forward to the report on fiscal developments and the assessment by my colleagues from the IMF.

8. review. After all, we are here to focus o n how we can implement better. This i s an opportunity to be honest about the challenges, so that we can improve. Nothing would be more dangerous than making too slow progress, so that the new foundations would not be laid during this critical period o f transition.

Second, where are the main challenges? This should be our main focus at the

9. From what I see, a lot s t i l l remains to be done to overcome Liberia’s history o f very bad governance, by a concerted and coherent effort. Major change i s needed at the general level o f bringing al l o f government together to act with common purpose, even with the new challenges that are specific to the Liberian transition. W e need to get to the nitty-gritty core o f how funds flow. Reforms o f financial management and procurement are key. I t i s imperative that these systems change, and change fundamentally and rapidly, or the continued support effort will be put at risk. W e know what the priorities are - basic services, restart o f community livelihoods, infrastructure, jobs for the young. But unless there i s purposeful, jo int backing o f the RFTF at the central level, and unless we reform the management o f the f low o f public and aid resources, we wil l a l l fail. W e need to see tangible results o n the ground, and the NTGL is key to make i t happen. This issue o f concerted public purpose, institutional reform and the fiduciary basis i s the one that I want to highlight to you this moming.

14

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10. We development partners wil l do our share as well, to more rapidly deliver on our pledges from six months ago. As the NTGL moves to reform, we must be willing to take risk, leam by doing and innovate in pooling resources, harmonizing procedures and going for rapid results. There are many excuses for delays, but none wil l stand up when we later wil l be judged whether we stepped up adequately when this country faced its historical window of opportunity. We al l come with rules and regulations, set up to ensure the good use o f our resources, but we need to be able to be flexible and willing to change if the response we give is going to be adequate.

1 1. breakout sessions to give us guidance. What has worked? What has not? Let us be open and clear. Let us target the reasons for delays and j o i n efforts. Le t us use the Results Framework well. We know a lot more now about the real situation, the real priorities and the real capacity. W e should revise the RFTF in the coming couple o f months to reflect our evolving understanding and priority-setting. We should make full use now o f the RIMCO, i t s support office and the working groups around the clusters. Partners should be willing to redeploy and put up new resources when the needs and opportunities so guide us. Let’s make things happen o n the ground.

So, thirdly, what is the way ahead? Well, this afternoon, you will be meeting in

12. The Wor ld Bank for i t s part is putting up what w e promised at the Lntemational Reconstruction Conference. The three areas o n which we focus our support - economic management, infrastructure and community development - are al l critical. But we, l ike others, also need to make sure we are stepping up to the challenge. As most o f you know, we now have a liaison office in Monrovia, thanks to cooperation with the UNDP, and al l our programs are being intensely worked on. What I want to te l l you, i s that we are fully committed to look at effective and new ways o f supporting Liberia. W e want to work in close partnership with al l donors to ensure that we give the NTGL the best concerted support in achieving i t s transitional and transformational objectives.

13. Chairman, and the NTGL, w e partners should find a way to accelerate, act with determination and achieve real change.

I have high hopes for what can be achieved today. Together with you, Mr.

Thank you.

15

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REPUBLIC OFLlBERIA NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL, GOVERNMENT OF LIBERIA

Executive Mansion, Monrovia

OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN

Distinguished Ladies & Gentlemen,

Last February, we came together in a gathering l i k e this at

UN headquarters in New York. The purpose was for the National

Transitional Government o f Liberia to request continuing donor

support for the humanitarian appeal o f the previous October and to

launch an ambitious reconstruction p lan for Liberia that we had

crafted for implementation over the two-year l i f e span o f the

transitional government . That p lan was constructed o n the

basis o f a needs assessment conducted by us in partnership with

the UN system, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund

and a number o f bilateral donors. A l o t o f people put in a l o t o f

work, under excruciating time pressure. I t was teamwork at i t s

best.

At the end o f the two days o f deliberation, you, the

donors and friends o f Liberia, endorsed our appeal in the form

o f pledges amounting to $520 million.

16

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REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT OF LIBERIA

Executive Mansion, Monrovia

OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN

And since the conference you have continued to pledge

additional support.

Today, we are here to take stock o f where we are, what

we have accomplished since the conference, what challenges

we face, h o w we are addressing those challenges, what

lessons we learned, what fine-tuning needs to be done to the

Results-Focused Transitional Framework itself, and where we

go from here.

But before I turn to those accomplishments, challenges and

lessons learned, on behalf o f the Liberian people, l e t me thank

al l o f you once again for your generosity and perseverance-to

our host, the Wor ld Bank, the IMF, the United Nations system,

the United States Government, ECOWAS, the donor core group

o f nations, the NGO fraternity and al l o f our other development

partners.

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REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT OF LTBERTA

Executive Mansion, Monrovia

OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN

After last February's reconstruction conference, we set up a

mechanism to coordinate the management and reporting o f

aid flows, monitor project implementation and evaluate results.

The RFTF Implementation and Monitoring Commi t t e e, or

RIMCO fo r short, comprises key governmental ministries,

donor core group members, and representatives o f the local and

foreign NGO community. I t provides broad po l i cy direction

for th i s process, i s chaired by me, and has met regularly since

last March. A small, full-time support office has been

established to start t rack ing a id flows, and to serve as a

channel o f communication between RIMCO and the cluster-

level working committees, which, led by government ministers,

provide a framework for informat ion sharing, po l icy

dialogue and project implementation.

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i

REPUBLIC OFLJBERIA NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT OF LBERIA

Executive Mansion, Monrovia

OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN

I want to thank the members o f RIMCO, the Support

Office and the Working Committees for their diligence and hard

work. I am informed that as o f September 9th donors had made

funds available or off icial ly confirmed the allocation o f

pledged amounts totaling $457 million. Given the fact that we

s t i l l have five quarters remaining in our development calendar,

this i s very encouraging news. The challenge now i s to ensure

effective disbursements and quality delivery to achieve RFTF

outcomes and benchmark results.

At the time o f the reconstruction conference, UNMIL troop

strength was just below 9,000. Today, UNMIL i s almost at full

strength and i s now in the final stages o f disarmament and

demobilization. However, the total number disarmed has far

exceeded the init ial estimates in the RFTF.

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REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT OF LIBERIA

Executive Mansion, Monrovia

OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN

I t means that significantly more money and equipment will be

needed than was initially envisaged, especially for the

reintegration and rehabilitation components, which are

designed to succeed disarmament and demobilization and rely

primarily on your voluntary contributions.

We want to thank Secretary Rumsfeld and the U S

Department o f Defense for taking up the challenge o f

leading the restructuring o f our Armed Forces. They are

working closely with our own defense establishment and

UNMIL to transform the Armed Forces o f Liberia into a

professional force that supports the Constitution and

democratic govemance.

The reintegration and rehabilitation o f ex-combatants into

civi l society, and the repatriation o f more than 250,000 refugees

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REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT OF LIBERIA

Executive Mansion, Monrovia

OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN

and relocation o f some 3 00,000 internal ly displaced people

into communities which have been

stripped o f social amenities and governance structures by more

than a decade o f war, are daunting challenges that can only be

addressed within a broader framework o f national recovery.

For u s as a nation, this i s definitely new ground.

Rely ing on o l d formulas and o ld methods wi l l not do. Success

wi l l require innovative approaches to problem solving and

social engineering, and I want to thank USAID, the Wor ld Bank,

UNDP, the European Commission and other donors for some

o f the creative community-driven development programs they

are fimding through local and international NGOs that target

income generation and local infrastructure development,

w h i l e building loca l government and community level

management capacity.

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REPUBLIC OFLlBERIA NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT OF LIBERIA

Executive Mansion, Monrovia

OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN

Success in community-driven development will also

require sufficiency o f resource flows, and in this respect I want

to draw your attention to the fact that we s t i l l have large

funding shortfalls in the areas o f health and nutrition, education

and water and sanitation.

UNHCR and WFP expect food stocks to run out by next

month unless aid i s provided now. We need urgent help to

avert this impending human catastrophe.

There i s progress in the area o f governance and the ru le

o f law. More than 1,000 UN civilian police officers are working

alongside our officials to recruit, train and deploy a new police

force that will incorporate professionalism, democratic

principles and bring respect for c iv i l rights into policing.

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REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL GOVEFWMENT OF LIBERIA

3 Executive Mansion, Monrovia

OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN

The Governance Reform Commission has been

established and i s rolling out reform initiatives for the civil

service and local govemment. Two other entities created by the

Comprehensive Peace Agreement to operate in this arena-

the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Independent

Human Rights Commission-are also functioning. Freedom

o f expression i s alive and well in Liberia. We can proudly boast

that we do not have a single joumalist or Liberian citizen in ja i l

on account o f views expressed.

But we do have a glaring shortcoming. Our judiciary was

given short shrift in the needs assessment and i s woefully

under funded. An independent judiciary, properly capacitated, i s

essential to the development o f political democracy and the

promotion o f free enterprise.

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REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT OF LIBERIA

Executive Mansion, Monrovia

OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN

Our judiciary needs money to ret ire ageing judges, build and

equip courts, and remunerate judges in a manner that will

preserve their integrity and independence.

Perhaps the greatest development challenge we face i s in

the area o f infrastructure. Electricity, urban water supply and

sanitation, telecommunications, roads-these are big-ticket

i tems with often long development lead times. A special

executive committee on electricity that I set up earlier this

year has been working with the European Commission office in

Liberia on a short and medium term proposal that calls for

liberalization o f the sector in order to induce private sector

participation in power generation and l o w voltage supply.

The committee has also presented a p l a n fo r

emergency power for Monrovia, again involving private sector

participation, which was discussed with the recent

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REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA NATIONAL, TRANSITIONAL, GOVERNMENT OF LIBERIA

Executive Mansion, Monrovia

OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN

World Bank infrastructure mission to Liberia. The EC and World

Bank will provide some funding for electricity but additional

funding i s desperately needed.

The needs assessment established funding

requirements o f $130 mi l l ion for infrastructure overall. Based

on present commitments, there i s a funding gap o f about $100

million.

Now, I want to speak a l i t t le bit about steps we have taken

to improve economic management. The publication, last October,

o f Executive Order No. 2 to centralize the collection o f taxes

was a f i r s t step. Since then, we have taken other measures.

The European Commission has funded audits o f 5 revenue-

generating public entities and the Central Bank o f Liberia. A l l

o f the audits are in progress. We await their findings and

recommendations.

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REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL GOWRNMENT OF LIBERIA

Executive Mansion, Monrovia

OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN

We have an extensive program to normalize relations with

the Bret ton Woods institutions, built around benchmarked

results. A team o f Ghanaian customs experts i s helping u s to

improve collections at the Freeport o f Monrovia and Roberts

International Airport. The U.S. Treasury has provided

advisors for our Central Bank, Bureau o f the Budget and

Ministry o f Finance. The IMF and World Bank will be

providing technical assistance for our Central Bank and

Finance Ministry. Improved expenditure control i s a key goal.

With help from the World Bank, we have established a unit,

anchored in my office, which i s leading the process o f public

procurement reform so as to ensure that the process i s kept on

track. A Contracts & Monopolies Commission has been

established to verify that procurement i s conducted in

accordance with published procedures and the law.

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REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA NATIONAL, TRANSITIONAL, GOVERNMENT OF LIBERIA

Executive Mansion, Monrovia

OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN

As I was leaving Liberia, a World Bank mission was

arriving in Monrovia, at our invitation, to put in place an

international competit ive bidding process fo r the

importation o f petroleum products. Better quality products at

cheaper prices i s a goal.

I am happy to report that our National Transitional

Legislative Assembly recently ratified the convention admitting

u s into the World Bank's Multilateral Investment Guarantee

Agency (MIGA). MIGA membership wi l l provide foreign

investors with an opportunity to obtain pol i t ical risk insurance

on their investments in Liberia, which we hope wi l l make

Liber ia a more attractive investment destination.

We are also undertaking major reforms in the forest sector.

These reforms cover commercial, conservation and community

aspects and are detailed in the Liberia Forest

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REPUBLIC OF LBERIA NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT OF LTBERIA

Executive Mansion, Monrovia

- . . OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN

Initiative Action Plan published in early June. The LFI program

was funded by the U S State Department. Some o f the reforms

relate directly to the sanctions imposed on the export o f

Liberian timber by the UN Security Council. These sanctions

are constraining our ability to create jobs, generate tax revenue

and improve the welfare o f our people. I pleaded at the

General Assembly a few days ago for their lifting.

Lastly, I want to come to the issue o f elections. A key

mandate o f the CPA signed in Accra in August last year was

for this Transitional Government to conduct internationally-

certified free and fair elections in October next year, organized

in accordance with the Liberian Constitution and with a new

head o f state and government being sworn into office in January

2006. That mandate explicitly determined a key role for the UN

Electoral

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REPUBLIC OFLIBEW NATIONAL, TRANSITIONAL GOWXNMENT OF LIBERIA

Executive Mansion, Monrovia I

OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN

Assistance unit and other international actors, such as

ECOWAS.

I am pleased to report that the National Elections

Commission (NEC) i s up and running. Voting procedures have

been agreed with stakeholders, a draft election law i s before the

NTLA for passage and just before I l e f t Monrovia I saw a

$19 mi l l ion budget that the NEC had compiled to fund the

upcoming elections.

The government's FY 2005 budget includes more than $2

mi l l ion in funding for the NEC and we have started delivering

on that commitment. Donors and the government n o w need to

review the NEC budget and assemble a financing plan once

agreement i s reached on the numbers.

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REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL GOVEFWMENT OF LTBERIA

Executive Mansion, Monrovia

OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN

When I began, I said I wou ld speak o f the

accomplishments and challenges. If I have seemed to dwell on

the challenges, i t i s because I want to keep u s focused on

problem solving. We have come a long way from the killing

fields o f last summer but Liberians have suffered a lo t and are

anxious for relief.

Disarmament i s almost completed. So, factionalism should

be a thing o f the past, replaced with reconciliation, peace

building and the spreading o f democratic principles and

practices. Everyone who i s in a leadership position in the

government or a publ ic corporation owes hidher allegiance

to the Liberian state, not to a faction. We can only succeed if

we put our country and the Liberian people f irst. The future i s

bright. We must persevere.

I thank you.

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UNITED NATIONS NATlONS UNIES Mission au Liberia Mission in Liberia

U N M I L

Jacques Paul Klein The Special Representative o f the Secretary General and Coordinator o f United Nations Operations in Liberia

RFTF Progress Review Meeting

The W o r l d Bank, Washington DC, 24 September 2004

Your Excellency Charles Gyude Bryant, Chairrnan o f the National

Transitional Government o f Liberia

Mr. Callisto Madavo, Vice President, Africa Region, World Bank

Mr. Andrew S. Natsios, Adminstrator, U S Agency for International

Development

Representative o f the European Union

Mr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Executive Secretary o f the ECOWAS

Excellencies,

Representatives of the Donor Community,

Distinguished Invi tees and participants,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I t i s my privilege to jo in you today at the mid-year review o f the

Result-Focused Transitional Framework, hosted by the World Bank. Many o f you were also present at the Liberia Reconstruction Conference in

February in New York where we adopted the RFTF as the overarching blueprint for Liberia to leave behind her legacy o f conflict and human

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suffering and enter a new phase o f national recovery and development. I applaud your steadfast commitment to Liberia. As we meet today to discuss the progress made since February on the RFTF, we see that considerable progress has been achieved within the past six months.

We now have a total o f 14,547 troops deployed throughout the country

including on the border with Cote d'lvoire, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Monitoring such long and porous borders i s a daunting challenge, but our

operations are achieving the desired results. The entire country i s now stable

and l i f e i s relatively normal. Commercial activities are on the rise, people

can now move freely throughout the country without fear o f harassment by

armed groups.

With regard to Liberia's military, UNMIL i s actively participating in

the preparations for the restructuring o f the armed forces o f the country.

We have developed a blueprint providing our proposals on the restructuring process and on a new defence policy for Liberia, and we have submitted

these proposals to the transitional government and to the United States,

which i s the lead partner on this important project.

We have made great strides in the disarmament and demobilization program. Since we launched the program on 7 December 2003, we have disarmed a total o f 80,144 combatants, including 14, 789 women, 5,696 boys

and 1, 620 girls. The overall number o f identified foreign combatants that have been disarmed currently stands at 583. Our latest analysis o f the

weapons and ammunition collected during the disarmament process so far indicates that, based on the agreed criteria, the ratio o f combatants to weapons now stands at 1.043 persons per weapon and ammunition. We have opened new disarmament and cantonment sites in Grand Gedeh, Lofa, and Nimba counties. In the coming weeks we will open the only remaining site,

which will be in Harper, Maryland County.

,

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Progress has been made in preparation for the repatriation o f foreign

combatants identified in the DDRR process. On 21 August, UNMIL and the

ICRC signed a Memorandum o f Understanding for the repatriation o f non-

Liberian children associated with fighting forces. The repatriation to Sierra

Leone started on 1 September.

All the stakeholders have agreed that the voluntary DD operations will

be completed on 31 October, in order to enable us to focus on the RR aspects.

On 1 November, the political leaders o f the former armed groups wil l s ign a

declaration affirming the completion o f the process.

On the humanitarian front, access continues to expand as UNMIL

troops have deployed throughout the country. UN agencies and NGOs are

establishing offices in more areas up-country and are playing a key role as

service providers in the DDRR program. The integration o f OCHA into the

office o f my Deputy responsible for Humanitarian Coordination this July

has greatly strengthened humanitarian coordination, strategic planning for

IDP/refugee returns and humanitarian aid delivery, while enhancing

coordination between UN agencies and NGOs.

The humanitarian situation has improved significantly in Liberia.

Today, many Liberians can finally start thinking about their re tu rn home.

As a result o f the improved security situation, spontaneous returns o f

Liberian refugees from neighboring countries are ongoing. The humanitarian

community, including the UN family, ICRC and NGOs are supporting the

Transitional Government in i t s efforts to ensure that refugee and IDP

returns are both safe and sustainable. A National Community Resettlement

and Reintegration Strategy was developed and adopted in June under the overall guidance o f the RWC on refugees, returnees and IDPs outlining the

steps necessary for organized and facilitated returns. UNHCR has

developed a multi-year repatriation and reintegration operation from 2004

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to 2007 and has already repatriated more than 13,424 Sierra Leonean refugees since the beginning o f 2004. 50,000 Liberians have already made their journey home spontaneously, while another 350,000 await repatriation through a UNHCR return drive commencing 1 October 2004.

At the same time, the needs o f Liberia's 260,000 internally displaced

persons, scattered throughout the country in 21 camps are not overlooked. An inter-agency Joint Planning Team has been established under the

auspices o f the Office o f my Deputy for Humanitarian Coordination with the

sole purpose o f providing planning support to the international community,

the National Government and other stakeholders in operationalising the

National Community Resettlement and Reintegration Strategy with the aim

to achieve a speedy, safe and dignified return for those internally displaced.

The UN family in Liberia including the FAO, OCHA, UNDP, UNFPA, UN Habitat, UNICEF, WFP; our implementing partners; and many NGOs are working tirelessly to restore basic services that wi l l facilitate returns and ensure their sustainability.

The NTGL under the leadership o f Chairman Bryant has shown considerable commitment to the "protection o f civilians" by undertaking an impressive 16 treaty actions on 22 September 2004, which includes 5 signatures, 8 accessions and 3 ratifications. I t i s noteworthy that some o f

these actions were pending affirmative action by Liberia for nearly 40 years.

I commend the NTGL and the N T L A for their courage and commitment to

implementing the international law on protection o f civilians.

We now have 1,090 C I W O L personnel deployed to 23 sites.

Considerable progress has been made in re-establishing the ru le o f law with

24 hour joint patrolling

Liberian National Police

by the United Nations Civilian Police and the

in the capital and many towns. The process o f

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training and restructuring Liberia's police service has started very well. In

July, we launched the training o f new police recruits at the Liberian

National Police Academy. Our goal i s to train 1,800 recruits by the time the

elections take place in October 2005.

There has been far-reaching progress in the rehabilitation o f Liberia's

judicial and correctional facilities. However, the entire system i s s t i l l facing

enormous infi-astructural, logistical, material and human resources

challenges.

We are also assisting in restoring civi l administration throughout the

country, and in building the capacity of numerous government agencies,

parastatals and public corporations. We have also supported the ongoing

deployment o f immigration and customs personnel to key border crossing

points and internal revenue collectors to several locations in the country.

The transitional government i s now in the process o f appointing county

superintendents to replace those installed by the armed factions. These

efforts are helping the transitional govemment to extend i t s authority

beyond Monrovia.

The National Elections Commission i s being assisted by the

international community to ensure that the preparations for the elections

are transparent and credible. The commission has initiated a series o f

consultative meetings with all stakeholders to discuss arising key electoral

issues. With the support o f UNMIL, the EC and USAID, the National

Elections Commission has finalized draft legislation on electoral reform and

submitted i t to the National Transitional Legislative Assembly.

W h i l e we address the more pressing humanitarian needs and the

issues o f RR o f ex-combatants, there i s an urgent need to augment the

infi-astructure sector to revitalize the economy. People have been waiting for

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i t for almost a year now and we need to deliver in these areas. Emergency

assistance to the Port o f Monrovia i s necessary for jumpstarting the

economy. A transport network i s key to providing impetus to agriculture as

more than 90% of the population depends on agriculture for a living; access

to markets; free movement o f goods and services, and the like. More

strategically, i t will facilitate movement o f people between all parts o f the

country and will help in exchange o f democratic ideas and consolidate peace.

In accordance with i t s mandate, UNMIL has continued to monitor

progress made by the transitional government to put in place mechanisms to

ensure proper management o f two key natural resources, namely diamond

and timber, which are both under United Nations sanctions. UNMIL, along

with UNDP, the United Nations Environmental Program and other partners,

has assisted the transitional government in formulating the framework for

restoring the proper management o f the environment and natural resources

in Liberia. I am pleased to report that Liberia has recently acceded to the

Basel Convention on the Control o f Trans-boundary Movement o f

hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, as well as the Rotterdam Convention

for Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides, and the Convention on Migratory Species.

Whi le considerable progress has been achieved on many fronts, we

remain concerned about the lack o f commitment to the peace process on the

part o f some o f the political leaders who are unwilling to come to terms with

the fact that they have to transfer their allegiance fiom their factions to the

transitional government o f which they are now part. The persistence

squabbling over government posts and continued attempts to undermine the

authority o f Chairman Bryant has made i t difficult for the transitional

government to function as a cohesive administration.

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Another key area o f concern i s the lack o f capacity on the part o f the

transitional government to effectively run the country and to deliver basic

services to the population. G o v e m e n t officials being deployed to the

counties lack adequate office facilities, equipment and other logistics support.

The transitional government neither has resources for proper functioning

ministries nor for restoring i t s presence throughout the country. The process

o f restoring state authority requires considerable support and resources,

including logistics, which are not available at the present. Whi le timely

assistance from the international community i s needed, the transitional

government also has to improve i t s own performance.

Corruption remains very much alive and the government has not

shown any transparency in the management o f public funds, despite the

decree issued by Chairman Bryant last year, which requires all revenues to

be centralized. Proper accountability for the revenue being collected from

such strategic facilities such as the sea and airports in Monrovia i s s t i l l to be made by the transitional government.

With regard to the situation in the wider sub-region, we continue to

maintain a watchful eye on Cote d' Ivoire and Guinea, particularly in view o f

their impact on Liberia's peace process. I t i s encouraging to note that leaders

from the Mano River Union countries comprising Guinea, Sierra Leone and

Liberia, have stepped up their cooperation in addressing cross-border issues

following their summit in May.

The mechanisms for monitoring the implementation o f the

Comprehensive Peace Agreement continue to meet regularly to address

arising obstacles to the peace process and to map out strategies o f ensuring

that the process remains on track. We have also agreed with ECOWAS and

the transitional government to establish a coordination mechanism to enable

us to develop and pursue a common strategy in supporting the peace

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process. The mechanism held i t s f i rst meeting in New York on the margins o f

the General Assembly session, on 20 September.

L e t me now explain the challenges we are facing and the continuing

threats to the peace process, which could easily reverse the progress we have

made so far.

The most urgent challenge at this stage i s the lack o f adequate funding for the reintegration o f ex-combatants. So far, we have created reintegration

opportunities for almost 10, 806 ex-combatants in agriculture and vocational

training activities, while 2,700 ex-combatants have registered into formal

school education in the current academic year. This number pales in

significance when compared to the over 80,000 combatants that have been

disarmed so far.

As for the reintegration o f ex-combatants, I must remind you that one

o f the key factors that left Liberia vulnerable and insecure after i t s f i rst civi l

war in the late 1990s was the failure by the international community to

ensure proper funding for the reintegration o f former combatants. We must

avoid repeating the same mistake. The entire DDRR program i s an integral

part o f the peace process. Lack o f adequate funding for i t s critical RR

component may create serious problems leading to the collapse o f the whole

program.

Based on the estimated total caseload o f 80,000 combatants that have

disarmed already, the funding required for the entire reintegration program

i s $44,093,368 and the outstanding shortfall stands at $42, 493,368. Our

operational strategy aims to strike a balance between the needs o f the ex-

combatants and those o f the communities to which they are returning. But,

funding for the repatriation o f refugees and the resettlement o f IDPs i s

equally inadequate.

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Ladies and Gentlemen, these funding shortfalls are extremely

worrisome. Delays in the resettlement o f returning refugees and IDPs will

mean that no meaningful reconciliation and recovery process can be immediately initiated. Furthermore, i t means a delay in the registration o f

voters. To date, only $158.8 mill ion has been received from the $487.7

mil l ion requested in the RFTF for Liberia's reconstruction and recovery.

CAP, the Humanitarian appeal i s only 43.1% funded thus far as opposed to

the 179.9 mill ion we sought in November last year.

I cannot overstate the importance o f ensuring that donors move

quickly to redeem their pledges if Liberia i s to have a realistic chance at

national recovery. I t i s very difficult to build up peace, stability and human

rights in a country, the capital city o f which does not have electricity, running

water or a sewage system.

The RFTF Review report that you have with you today aptly

summarizes the progress that we have achieved collectively in advancing the RFTF for the benefit o f the people o f Liberia.

While, the RFTF has the potential to be an important tool for dialogue

and coordination between humanitarian and development partners by ensuring that adequate linkages are made between meeting the urgent basic

needs o f the Liberians and the long-term goals for the development o f

Liberia, the RFTF working committees have had uneven success in

delivering on their mandated work plans.

Horizontal coordination among the cluster committees i s lacking and i t i s perhaps time to re-think the very composition o f cluster themes and

areas o f responsibility. Wh i le the current structure - inspired by the Joint

Needs Assessment - provided a serviceable framework to capture the needs

and response imperatives ahead o f the February reconstruction conference,

the unfolding realities on the ground show that some cluster activities, for

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example the RR phase o f DD belong perhaps more rightly within the cluster

on refugees, returnees and IDPS for greater cohesion and tighter

coordination.

I urge the participants o f this review meeting to examine new thematic

combinations and efficiencies in cluster implementation against the current

realities on the ground and rearrange the clusters accordingly.

I t i s important to understand that while processes are important, we

must ensure that they do not become an end in themselves. The RFTF

implementation needs to gather steam and should assist the NTGL in finding

practical and coherent solutions to make the institutional reforms work for

the people o f Liberia. There i s a clear need to facilitate understanding

between key players so as to avoid overlaps, help al l actors work to an

agreed strategic framework and maximize returns from the limited donor

funds that we have.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Liberia stands between the tragic legacies o f

i t s past and the hope o f i t s one country; one people; and one common destiny.

In the last few months they have taken small but significant steps in the right

direction. Your continued support wil l be crucial to maintaining the pace o f

the recovery and reconstruction o f Liberia.

Thank you.

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Liberia RFTF Progress Review Meeting

Remarks by USAID Administrator Andrew S. Natsios

Chairman Bryant, World Bank Vice President Modavo, Special Representative o f

the UN Secretary General Klein, Dr. Chambas, other distinguished guests, ladies

and gentlemen, I am happy to be with you this moming to discuss the recent

progress in Liberia's struggle to recover f rom nearly a decade and a ha l f o f

terrible armed conflict and to review the prospects for building a new nation from

the ruins o f this failed state. During my br ie f remarks, I would l ike to highlight

the key challenge that you, the Liberians, and we, the international community,

must do our best to overcome in the next year to ensure that Liberia continues to

make progress toward national salvation. First, however, I would l ike to thank the

Wor ld Bank, the United Nations, and the National Transitional Government o f

Liberia for making this meeting happen.

Ladies and gentlemen, we do not have any time to waste, in either Liberia's

rebuilding process or this meeting. So, let m e dispense with niceties and get right

to the point o f the messages I want to deliver to you this morning.

A moment ago I said that we al l face an overriding challenge in our efforts to

rebuild Liberia. That challenge is: ensuring true, lasting security for the country

and its people, so that the political, economic, and social transition can succeed.

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To do this j o b right, however, we must understand what true, lasting security really means.

What ensuring security in a conflict-torn failed state brings to mind to most o f us,

I believe, i s armed forces, police, and related governmental apparatus for

establishing and keeping peace, law, and order. These are indisputably necessary.

They are not, however, sufficient for ensuring the requisite security for putting a

shattered, failed state l ike Liberia back together and keeping i t o n track toward a

better future.

In Liberia's case, I would argue that there are three keys to establishing and

sustaining the kind o f security that will undergird a successful transition over the

next twelve months and beyond. Those three keys are: first, reintegrating and

revitalizing Liberian communities, particularly in the countryside, through

community-based economic, psycho-social, and political transition programs;

second, pursuing realistic - and I wish to underscore that word, "realistic" -

reforms in governance and politics; and, third, making sure that the elections take

place without fa i l in October 2005 and prove free, fair, and credible.

For real security, the Liberian people must not only feel safe f rom physical harm

in their homes, communities, and country. They must also have hope for

gradually moving out o f the poverty that weighs so heavily o n the populace. I

have found that Liberians tend to be an especially resilient and patient people who

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wil l remain willing to keep their expectations realistic, as long as they see light at the end

o f the tunnel. We must do al l we can to tap that spirit and provide that light, through

our aid programs.

I believe the Liberian people also have a yearning and capacity to reconcile with

one another and work together in community across ethnic, generational, gender,

and geographical lines. We have to do our utmost to help the country realize

those desires.

And I believe the Liberian people are intent on breaking the chains o f

authoritarianism, militarism, and exclusionism that have bound them for decades,

if not centuries. We must not fa i l to provide Liberians the means, from the

grassroots upwards, to determine their own destinies.

What, then, should be our priorities?

First, we must get the disarmed and demobilized ex-combatants back into civilian

society and community. W e must also help the internally displaced persons move

out o f the camps in and around Monrovia and resettle in their home communities,

along with repatriated refugees. Finally, w e must help a l l community members to

work together to improve their lots in life.

Second, under a framework now being developed by the United Nations, we need

to collaborate on developing a program o f community reintegration and

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revitalization that i s national in scope, that consists o f a cohesive, high priority set

o f activities (rather than an ad hoc amalgamation, as i s currently the case to a

degree), and that receives the necessary support from other donors for urgent

implementation. U S AID'S reintegration initiatives, such as the Liberia

Community Infrastructure Program, are providing Liberians with opportunities

for jobs, income, healing and reconciliation support, and the wherewithal to work

together to shape their future. Those initiatives are already helping Liberians to

revitalize their communities, families, and local societies, and we are planning to

redouble our efforts in that regard.

And, third, it i s important to increase Liberians' confidence that their political

leaders and governmental institutions have serving the public good as their

paramount priority. Given the fact that the NTGL is the result o f a peace deal,

however, we must keep our reform expectations realistic. W e cannot expect a

transitional government, during its two-year term o f office, to work miracles, to

fix al l the institutions that are broken, or to ensure exemplary public service o n

the part o f every facet o f the NTGL. What we can do, however, i s expect that

individual NTGL officials, in carrying out their duties, personally exemplify the

highest universal standards o f off icial conduct.

As a practical means o f focusing o n realistic expectations in this regard, I propose

that the Chairman commit himself and his colleagues to a l imi ted number -

perhaps a dozen - specific goals that they wil l assume responsibility and

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accountability for achieving. I suggest that these goals concentrate on reforms

which individual NTGL officials, including the Chairman, have the authority and

capacity to achieve. What I have in mind are such goals as unfailingly making

public any and al l off-budget expenditures, openly providing evidence that

budgets clearly reflect national priorities, scrupulously following a transparent

process o f making any new contractual obligations, and rigorously involving c iv i l

society substantively in any NTGL personnel actions. Perhaps the attendees at

this meeting could come up with a set o f such commitments. I believe this kind

o f commitment to results in the governance area would complement nicely the

RFTF's results-based approach to transition assistance.

An aspect o f governance that is crucial to underpinning security even during the

transition period i s justice. Most o f the govemance concerns w e try to address

and the commitments we seek during post-conflict periods, particularly for failed

states, have to do with performance toward improved service delivery, accelerated

institutional reform, and similar undertakings that are relatively less value-laden.

In most cases, however, the root causes o f the conflict have more to do with

injustices, human and c iv i l rights abuses, and related equity and ethics factors.

All o f us - the international community, the NTGL, and Liberians generally -

need to address these factors head on, if we are to achieve true, lasting security that leads

to building a new Liberia.

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Last, but certainly not least, we must make sure the holding o f elections in

October o f 2005, as the Comprehensive Peace Agreement dictates, does indeed

take place on schedule. The National Elections Commission (NEC) deserves

commendation for both crafting a new elections framework without undue delay

and doing so in close consultation with the full range o f Liberia stakeholders. I t i s

imperative that the National Transitional Legislative Assembly not delay

ratification o f the framework, without significant alterations, and passage o f

whatever enabling legislation is necessary to put the framework into off icial

effect. The U.S. Government i s contributing significant assistance to the N E C

and the elections preparations process in general, in close cooperation with the

United Nations, the European Union, and others, to see that free, fair, and credible

elections do indeed take place in October 2005. In that regard, I was pleased to

leam that just earlier this week Chairman Bryant said categorically that he would

be leaving office in January 2006 with the installation o f the newly elected

government.

In closing, let me reemphasize that a peaceful, stable Liberia depends on

economic and political as wel l as physical security. I encourage you al l in this

meeting to combine your forces to that end.

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Results-Focused Transition Framework (RFTF) Review Meeting

At the World Bank, Washington DC: September 24,2004

Statement on behalf o f the United Nations Development Group By David Nabarro

I have the privilege o f speaking today on behalf o f members o f the UN Country Team in Liberia, as well as their staff in headquarters and elsewhere. Most are represented here. Abou Moussa, who is indisposed, sincerely regrets that he i s unable to be with us. We thank the hosts and co-sponsors for making this meeting possible.

We decided not to repeat the points made by previous speakers, so our statement has been rewritten to focus on the present and future.

The Results Focused Transitional Framework i s an instrument through which al l concerned can gauge the progress o f the efforts made to secure peaceful transition, in Liberia, since early 2004. I t is a robust instrument, and the stakeholders who developed it are their own strongest critics. Results are tracked through the RIMCO mechanism, by the RWCs . Tracking systems have yet to be fully developed, so the results presented are incomplete.

Nevertheless, the progress report enables u s to start seeing what is, and i s not, happening. I t i s clear that the NTGL is taking control o f the transition process and that the transition programme, as spelt out in the RFTF, i s being implemented. There has been progress on security, the rule o f law, disarmament o f ex-combatants, basic service provision, preparation for elections and economic management.

There are big gaps, too, especially on rehabilitation and reintegration, and timely budget preparation and approval. W e al l agree o n these gaps - indeed, our jo int view i s spelt out clearly in the progress report made available to you.

After a difficult start, the transition process has picked up momentum and - at the end o f six months - we can report real, but modest, progress. Some wil l see the glass as hal f full, others as hal f empty. We are only six months in, yet foundations have been laid for a stable State, functioning government and better living conditions for Liberia's people.

What i s important, now, is that we al l accelerate the rate o f progress during the next six months. UN systems agencies know that they have to redouble their efforts o n behalf o f the people o f Liberia, to help the Government recommit to unity o f purpose and action, and to use scarce funds efficiently, ensure that services reach those who need them, and minimize unnecessary processes.

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The UN is committed to help much needed institutions to start working again, using resources in a transparent way, with a focus on community development and the f i l l involvement o f NGOs and c iv i l society, implementing effectively and creating a climate o f confidence in which donors are eager to convert pledges into financial assistance. There would be a reduction in the extent to which different factional interests could - at this time - directly influence resource allocation divisions for their own gain.

The UN Country Team is ready to provide support with a view to helping Liberian institutions and people, and those who support them, towards the ends outlined in the Results-Focused Transition Framework.

End

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H i s Excellency Charles Gyude Bryant, Chairman, National Transitional Government o f Liberia, Mr. Callisto Madavo, Vice President, Afr ica Region, World Bank Dr. Ibn Chambas, Executive Secretary, ECOWAS Dr. David Nabarro, Technical Co-coordinator, UNDG Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

A little over six months since the Liberia Reconstruction Conference was held in N e w York, a l l stakeholders in the Liberia reconstruction process are gathered here today to discuss the 1 St Result-Focused Transitional Framework(RFTF) Progress Review Report covering the period February to August 2004. This Report i s a response to the specific conference decision to conduct periodic donor consultations, including a session with representatives from capitals, approximately six months into the implementation o f the RFTF. We anticipate that, together, we wil l review the progress achieved against benchmarks set in the f i rs t 6-months o f RFTF implementation, discuss the bottlenecks encountered during the implementation process and joint ly formulate strategies to accelerate the achievement o f unmet benchmarks as wel l as those in the next 6-months implementation phase.

The Review Report i s based strictly o n the RFTF benchmarks. I t provides an introductory background o f the political, socio-economic, development and humanitarian contexts o f the transitional process in Liberia, within which the RFTF was conceived, constructed and is being implemented. I t also contains a narrative o f the results achieved in the agreed priority areas under the 10 RFTF Clusters and outlines a series o f constraints and lessons learnt over the review period o f RFTF implementation. New, emerging issues, trends and challenges are highlighted and a case i s made for the revision o f the RFTF to reflect current development imperatives.

The Report contains three(3) annexes: - First, the RFTF Activi ty Tracking Sheet(FL4TS) which reports o n progress against the RFTF benchmarks; second, the informal Tracking Sheet which tracks pledges and contributions to the RFTF from al l sources; and third, the RFTF Implementation and Coordination organizational structure.

In this br ie f presentation, I will not dwell on the details o f the relatively modest and mixed achievements made thus far, but rather focus o n the implementation constraints, bottlenecks and the existing fund gaps which are impeding progress in meeting agreed RFTF benchmarks in each Cluster.

CLUSTER 1

Full deployment o f the 15,000 UNMIL troops throughout Liberia as required was achieve o n 3 1 March 2004, thereby returning much needed security, peace and tranquility to most areas in Liberia except parts o f Lofa county due to poor road condition.

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Restructuring o f the Armed Forces o f Liberia (AFL) i s in progress with the participation o f NTGL MOD, the U S D O D and UNMIL. However, two key bottlenecks exist: - (1) the cost o f AFL restructuring has not been determined and (2) the documentation o f AFL personnel in active service by the Defense Advisory Committee (DAC) i s under-funded.

CLUSTER 2

Significant progress was made in the DD part o f the DDRR programme although armed combatants in Voinjama, the largest province have not been disarmed. Nevertheless, most parts o f the country is now accessible as exemplified by the visit o f Chairman Gyude Bryant to 7 o f the 15 provinces where successful DD activities had been undertaken by UNMIL. However, the actual number o f demobilized combatants which was estimated in the RFTF in February 2004 at 53,000 i s now projected at 80,000, far beyond the estimation o f NTGL and the International Community.

A major funding gap therefore exist with grave implications especially for the Rehabilitation and Reintegration(RR) component o f the DDRR programme in terms o f the capacity o f training institutions and communities to absorb the increasing number o f demobilized combatants. The inability to absorb the demobilized combatants into training institutions i s a major cause o f the increasing unrest and rioting. Ex-combatants’ overwhelming concentration in the over-congested capitol, Monrovia without job opportunities, poses a threat to national security. I t i s estimated that a total o f US$45M i s needed to meet the RR requirements.

CLUSTER 3

Notable achievements have been registered in this area. Over 10,000 Sierra Leonean refugees were resettled by the U N H C R in Sierra Leone by June 2004. Food and non-food assistance has been provided for thousands o f Liberian returnees and IDPs in Lofa, Montserrado, Bong and other parts o f the country by the UNHCR, ICRC, WFP and LRRRRC 9

October 2004 to M a y 2005 i s the provisional timeline agreed to by the NTGL and U N H C R for the commencement o f organized refugee and IDP returns. It is envisaged that 100,000 Liberian refugees (out o f a total o f 250,000) and 100,000 IDPs (out o f 330,000) wil l return to their homes within that period. In addition, a National Return and Reintegration Strategy document has been developed by the LRRRC in collaboration with relevant UN agencies to organize the return process. A comprehensive information campaign for the refugee and IDP population has been planned and a Security Assessment Committee for Reintegration (SACR), has been established. Mercy corps and other development NGOs are currently conducting workshops in several counties.

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A “Joint Planning Team” (JPT), an inter-agency body, has been established to support the NTGL in the actual organization o f returns. The h c t i o n s o f the JPT include planning specific activities such as registration, sensitization, trucking, distribution networks for start-up kits as well as identify major funding or resource gaps that could inhibit progress in the repatriation and resettlement programme.

Two key constraints have been identified: - (1) the estimated provision for basic services(hea1th care, safe water, sanitation and education) i s inadequate in light o f the huge number o f returnees and IDPs required to be resettled in areas completely bereft o f these facilities, (2) shelter or housing i s non-existent in most areas earmarked for resettlement purposes due to the scourge-earth activities o f combatants during the c iv i l crises. Housing or shelter for IDPs and Refugees resettlement has now emerged as a critical priori ty sector requiring urgent donor attention.

CLUSTER 4

Appreciable strides have been made in achieving the benchmarks in this Cluster. These achievements include: - reform o f the C iv i l Service has commenced; UNDP, USAID, the Chinese Government and other partners have re-capacitated key ministries and government agencies; a l l the three commissions (Governance Reform, Truth and Reconciliation and Contracts and Monopolies Commissions) envisaged in the CPA are now in operation; RFTF benchmarks regarding the reconstitution o f essential criminal courts, strengthening o f the Police and the revitalization o f four prisons are either ongoing or have been met.

Despite these successes, two main constraints impede further progress in this sector: (1) Lack o f capacity in the c iv i l service, the private sector as wel l as in c iv i l society groups including local NGOs; (2) inadequate funding to cover the cost o f implementing programmes and projects in this sector.

CLUSTER 5

In fulfil lment o f the requirement o f the RFTF, the National Election Commission (NEC) was reconstituted and operationalized with support from the NTGL, UNMIL, the European Commission and other partners. A drafi reform legislation was approved by the N E C on 27 August 2004 and submitted to the NTLA for ratification. The draft legislation contains three major categories o f reforms, i.e., (1) suspension o f relevant constitutional provisions; (2) amendments to the 1986 N e w Elections Law; and (3) promulgation o f a new elections law. The reform legislation considered important issues such as the type o f electoral system to employ, membership requirement for political parties and the nature o f alliances and mergers.

However, the funding for programmes and activities for the preparation and conduct o f elections in October 2005 i s inadequate and slow in disbursement. Technical assistance

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in the area o f electoral systems design and management as wel l as capacity building for the expanding staff o f the NEC are urgently needed.

CLUSTER 6

During the review period, some progress was made in the provision o f basic services - primary healthcare, education and community water & sanitation services - to people in accessible parts o f the country.

In the Health sector, a number o f community and primary health clinics were rehabilitated and operationalized with trained staff in line with RFTF targets. Immunization o f over 1.5 children against measles, yellow fever and polio are ongoing or completed in addition to other public health activities. However, significant problems remained unsolved: - capacity building for the Ministry o f Health to plan and monitor the health situation has not improved; a promise to develop a master plan for health and nutrition in Liberia has not been fulfilled; no funding has been received for the anticipated repairs o f the six referral hospitals, 25 Primary Health Care Centers and four training institutions nationwide. JFK Medical Center, the nation's main referral hospital, needs urgent rehabilitation to enable it provide services for Monrovia's 1.2 mi l l ion people.

In the Education Sector, some o f the benchmarks have been achieved. Some primary and secondary schools have been rehabilitated and made functional. Three buildings on the campus o f the University o f Liberia were renovated by UNMIL. UNICEF has supported rehabilitation o f the Kakata Rural Teacher Training Institute. The Ministry o f Education has received substantial supplies and a generator from UNICEF and the Chinese Government.

Notwithstanding these achievements, progress in other areas is poor. Work o n the 50 badly damaged schools has not begun; none o f the three vocational training institutions has received learning materials; textbooks' printing as envisaged in the RFTF i s behind schedule; a proposal for revision o f the curriculum for teachers and learners has not been produced; and training for the targeted 200 education officers has not begun - al l due to the lack o f funding under the RFTF to implement these programmes and projects.

Progress has been recorded in meeting the benchmarks under Community Water and Sanitation in the areas o f water treatment, provision and rehabilitation o f wells and drop holes in rural as wel l as in places near urban areas through the collaborative efforts o f the Ministr ies o f Health, Education, Rural Development, Lands, Mines & Energy, UNICEF, ACF, Concern, ICRC and national NGOs. Many community water and sanitation projects remain unimplemented due to shortfalls in funds earmarked for this sub-sector.

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CLUSTER 7

Progress being achieved in this Sector is modest. Although the Ministry o f Agriculture has received 68 project proposals for agricultural activities that contribute to RFTF priorities, information o f implementation status and outputs i s not yet available. The Cluster reports however, that seeds and tools were distributed to several hundred farmers in some parts o f the country. In addition, the community-driven programme under the sponsorship o f the World Bank is on course with initial implementation activities undertaken by Mercy Corps awaiting the full establishment o f the Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment( LACE).

Agriculture, the main pre-occupation o f the majority o f the people o f Liberia, requires urgent attention as wel l as significant external technical and financial support if it must impact positively on the employment situation in Liberia. I t may well be the largest employer o f ex-combatants in the short, medium and long terms if adequately supported.

CLUSTER 8

Very l i t t le progress has been recorded in the Infrastructure sector. Although the E C i s partly supporting rehabilitation works in the power and urban water sub-sectors, very l i t t le has been achieved in the rehabilitation o f roads, bridges, ports, urban sanitation facilities and telecommunication pol icy reforms in fulfil lment o f RFTF benchmarks. Although the World Bank i s supporting a number o f projects in this Sector, the funding requirements for the limited number o f projects in the Infrastructure Sector supercedes the combined support o f the WB and EC. Thus, th is Sector is grossly under-funded in the RFTF and a source o f concern in the NTGL that i t may not deliver o n promises contained in the RFTF in any o f the sub-sectors o f the Infrastructure Cluster during this period o f transition.

CLUSTER 9

Appreciable progress has been noted in this Cluster. In the area o f revenue mobilization, budget preparation, fiscal management and Audit, the government o f Ghana, the ADB and the IMF have provided technical assistants (TAs) to the Ministry o f Finance to assist with improving revenue collection and management. The U S Treasury Department has provided Budget Advisors to assist with capacity building at the Bureau o f the Budget. The budget for FY 2004 - 2005 submitted by the Government to the Transitional Assembly was passed o n 1 September 2004, slightly later than anticipated in the RFTF.

The audit o f fiscal revenue-collecting agencies, including the Bureau for Maritime Affairs, the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), the LPRC and the Central Bank o f Liberia, has been initiated with the support o f the European Commission. An audit law has been drafted and i s being reviewed by government ministries and agencies.

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In the area o f statistics, the collection, processing and analysis o f statistical information have resumed. Project proposals for mapping the localities o f Liberia and conducting living condition surveys have been prepared. The Act creating the National Bureau o f Statistics was passed by NTLA.

With respect to Public Sector Procurement, the Wor ld Bank i s working closely with the NTGL in starting national consultations and putting into place the necessary structures and mechanisms to ensure credible public procurement policies and administration. The NTGL draft Procurement Manual has been completed. The Contracts and Monopolies Commission (CMC) whose function relate o f procurement contracts and activities, has been set up and i s working actively in the Public Sector Procurement reform project.

In the Financial Sector, the regulatory frameworks for the enforcement o f prudential regulations in the financial sector and the insurance industry have been established and are being implemented. The establishment o f an autonomous National Insurance Commission i s proposed but financial as well as technical assistance in insurance law and operation are needed.

Regarding Forestry, Extraction Industry, and Management o f Natural Resources, the Wor ld Bank is currently preparing the Terms o f Reference (TORS) for a forestry inventory while the Concession Review Committee is now engaged in the 3'd phase review process. The Liberia Forest Initiative is involved with strengthening financial accountability at the FDA with respect to the monitoring o f the production and revenue collection o f timber. U S A I D and the World Bank are providing long-term technical assistance for Forest Management to the FDA.

CLUSTER 10

1. In fulfillment o f the benchmarks contained under Cluster 10 o f the RFTF, the RFTF Implementation and Monitoring Committee(RIMC0) has been established and i s fully operational. Based in the Ministry o f Planning, the R I M C O Secretariat, known as the R I M C O Support Office (RSO), i s now manned by three national staff whi le awaiting two international advisors to come on board shortly.

The R I M C O Working Committees(RWCs), have started work and produced the RFTF Consolidated Tracking Sheets(RATS) which is attached to this Review Report as Annex I.

IMPLEMENTATION CONSTRAINTS

At this time, I would l ike to summarize some o f the constraints or bottlenecks encountered in the implementation process o f the RFTF. These implantation constraints must be addressed urgently to ensure unimpeded progress in the achievement o f the benchmarks in the RFTF: -

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1. Programmes, projects and activities undertaken by majority o f the Ten RFTF clusters are under-funded;

2. An inconsistency or mismatch i s identified between the timing o f financial need and the disbursement o f funds for the donor source;

3. RWCs do not have adequate financial and technical capacity to oversee the work o f partner organization working with clusters;

4. Lack o f adequate human and institutional capacities in the NTGL i s an impediment to effective programme implementation, monitoring and reporting;

5. The lack or scarcity o f information to the NTGL and Clusters o f the amounts o f actual contributions, disbursements to organizations, and delivery by sources, timing and RFTF cluster is hampering planning and implementation activities in Clusters;

CHALLENGES

Experiences gained during the 6-months review period revealed - challenges o f immediate and short-term significance: -

1. The RR component o f the DDRR, which is ongoing, needs additional resources to meeting the emerging demands placed on the programme at this point in time,

2. job or employment creation to absorb ex-combatants f rom the RR programme, IDPs and returnees and the working-age population in general i s a major concern,

3. the planned provision o f shelter or housing for IDP and refugee resettlement in October this year is l ikely to fa l l short o f its target,

4. the NEC and electoral activities in Liberia are in dire need technical, logistical and financial resources if the approved NEC’s workplan i s to be h l f i l l e d o n schedule,

5. Rehabilitation o f the infrastructure in Liberia i s vi tal for electoral as we l l as economic activities

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CONCLUSION

In conclusion, I wish to emphasize that implementation o f RFTF requirements has made progress. Further progress i s anticipated in the period ahead as greater understanding, coordination and consultations within and amongst RWCs within the R I M C O mechanism are fostered with the technical support o f the RSO. The key ingredient required to accelerate progress future phases i s the commitment o f al l stakeholders - the NTGL, the development partners, NGOs and Civ i l Society organizations to the RFTF implementation process.

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C o n C e r n s o f t h e I n ~ a1NGOCo”unity CumUywOrking in ljberia

Remarks prepared by the Monitoring & Steering Group

The First Review of Liberia’s Results Focused Transitional Framework (RFTF)

Co-Sponsmd by: The National Transitional Govemment of Liberia &

The Workl Bank

Worid Bank Headquarters 24 September 2004

The Monitoring & Steering Group (MSG) The MSG is a msortium Of 35 lNG0s currently at work in Liberia

Executive Committee Nicky Smith, The IRC - Chair

Denise Bartlett, MCI Corinna Kneidler. GAP.

Action Contre la Faim ADRA

AFRICARE American Refugee Committee

Caritas International Christian Children’s Fund

Concern Catholic Relief Services

CHF lntemational Danish Refugee CWnd Diakonie Emergency Ad

Equip

MMlbt-6 Finnish Refugee Council

German Agro Action Humedica

lntemational Medical Corps The lntemational Rescue Committee

Jesuit Refugee Services LWFMlS

Mercy Corps lntemational Merlin

Mededns du Monde France MSF Belgium MSF Holland

MSF Switzerland North West Medical Team

N o w i a n Refugee Council Oxfarn

Premi&e Urgence Peace Winds Japan

Save the Children - UK Soliarit& UMCOR

World Vision ZOA

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Concerns of the International NGO ComnuniIy Fint Revlew of Liberia's RFTF, The World Bank- 24 September 2004

Address given by N i Smith, The IRC Liberia Country Di&, on behalf ofthe MSG

On behalf of the lntemational Non-Govemmental Organizations (INGOs) currently working in Liberia, I would like to thank the National Transitional Govemment of Liberia, the United Nations Mission in Liberia and the World Bank for the invitation to this forum.

After 14 years of devastating civil war in which all sides appear to have been guilty of committing atrocities against civilians-atrocities that indude forced conscription, the widespread use of child combatants, rape and sexual violence, looting and banditryAberia appears to have tumed the comer and the population is struggling to rebuild their county. lntemational NGOs welcome both the Results Focused Transitional Framework and this on- going review process. We hope that this review will identtfy areas in which significant progress has been made in Liberia, as well as highlight a number of areas that must be improved to ensure a successful and sustainable transition from near decades of violent conflict.

The IRC is honored to have been setected by the Monitoring & Steering Group (MSG), a consortium of more than thirty intemational NGOs currently at work in Liberia, to voice its " e m s in this distinguished fonrm. Some members of this consortium are relatively new in country, whilst others have been operational in Liberia for more than a decade. Some of these members foars on providing emergency relief assistance and were active at the peak of the conflict; whilst others are more developmentally oriented and concentrate on community empowerment and capacity building. To date, members of the MSG are currently providing assistance to more than 2.2 million people amss Liberia, have contributed more than $85 million to the recovery process and provide employment to more than 3,800 Liberian nationals. While these members maintain their independence and impartialtty, they also work in partnership with the United Nations as well as local NGOs. A recent review identified more than 140 working partnerships with local Liberian NGOs. One thing instantly recognizable: as Liberia makes the transition from relief to development, intemational NGOs continue to play a critical role in providing humanitarian relief as well as supporting the reconstruction efforts.

On behalf of the International NGOs in Liberia, I would like to once again thank the forum for the opportunity to provide feedback. A tremendous amount of work has been done in a remarkably short period of time. We have seen that in the review document. Them is a sense of optimism for the future, but wisdom and experience dictate that there are also many challenges and potential pitfalls on the horizon. To make effective use of our brief time today, I don't want to talk about the successes of the process, but will focus rather on constructive ways to improve the impact of the work I will begin by highlighting a number of ways that the process itself should be improved, and then identify a number of deficiencies regarding the reality of its implementation.

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Coneems of the h r t e " a l No0 Cormwnity first Review of Liberia's RFTF, The World Bank-24 September 2004

The RFTF, by prioritizing and establishing a set of common results with benchmarks and indicators, is an effective, comprehensive and pioneering tool to focus reoonstruction efforts. W i any pioneering or gmundbreaking technique, however, the process itsetf requires a number of adjustments in order to close the gaps or overcome certain obstades to achieving the desired targets.

Communication First, the initial six months have revealed that to tighten the coordination, accuracy and impact of this Liberian-led process, communication must be greatly improved. This will be accomplished by holding the working groups more accountable to the process and creating an atmosphere whereby the intemational NGOs have a greater sense of ownership and a clearer understanding of the framework's methodology.

Concumnt Timelines Second, although the RFTF is limited to a two-year time period, there must be a way to develop concurrently longer-term strategies with realistic timelines and funding periods. This will facilitate a smooth transition to the next phase of reconstruction in the period following the elections in October 2005 and the conclusion of the RFTF.

inaccurate Reporting My colleagues have also expressed the concem that due to poor understanding, constrained coordination and limited information flow, the activities reported in the RFfF review do not fully or accurately document the actual work done in country during the past six months.

Principles wsus Pragmatism On a daily basis, international NGOs must carefully balance principles with pragmatism. Given the changing context of peacekeepin-e blurring of l i e s between military and humanitarian initiatives, the increasing pditicization of aid and the realities of the integrated mission-this is even more of a reality. Appropriately, pragmatism is often given the upper hand; but in some circumstances, principles cannot be compromised. Many within the international NGO community believe that the tight two-year deadline to reconstruction and the overwhelming laundry list of "ings to do" associated with the RFTF have necessitated that important steadfast princtples be compromised.

Aside frcmI the gaps within the process, there are a number of deficiencies made manifest by the reality of implementing the RFTF.

Root Causes The deployment of UN peacekeepers has brought about marked improvements in the human rights situation; however, the experience in Sierra Leone has taught us that troop deployment, the disarmament of combatants and successful elections will not be enough. It is critical to look at the deep-seated issues that gave rise to the conflict: endemic cormption, ineffective

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Concerns of the lnternallonal No0 Commrnii First Review of M a ' s RFTF, The World Bank- 24 S e p t e " 2004

rule of law, poverty and the inequitable distribution of resources. The goahriented process of the RFTF does not do enough to tackle these root causes. We must not assume a band-aid approach. The intemational community must facilitate efficient and effective Liberian-led institution and capacity building programs that clearly address the root causes of the conflict in both a participatory and democratic manner. Only by taking adion to address these entrenched ills, can we enable the emergence of a more stable society based on the respect for rule of law. If these issues are not sufficiently addressed, Liberia could once again slide back into conflict.

Economic Recovetyand l n f r a s t " The RFTF includes a comprehensive section on economic recovery, livelihood and infrastructure. These are all critical issues ... yet, unfortunately, they are without adequate funding to date. Without economic recovery, the peace process will remain fragile. Liberia needs an infusion of foreign capital through private investment. This will never happen without significant improvements to existing infrastructure. In Liberia today, there is no electricity other than that provided by private generator, and no sewerage or transport system. This impacts not only public health but also the morale of the population. It deters foreign investment that has the potential to provide the much-needed jolt to the economy and increase employment opportunty for the population. Furthermore, the poor infrastructure hinders the quantity and quality of assistance provided by intemational NGOs outside of Monrovia.

W ~ o u t an increase in meaningful economic opportunities, problems of prostitution and trafficking will further increase, as will the risk that young people are m i t e d into fighting forces in other West African countries. Additionally, the absence of job opportunities provides a disincentive for intemally displaced populations and refugees to retum home. Dependency on food aid and other handouts will continue. These destabilizing factors will negatively impact the electoral process.

Humanitarian Issues

The entire Liberian population is a victim of this conflict. Reintegration and rehabilitation opportunities are required, not only for combatants, but also intemally displaced people and refugees. Whilst the RFTF process focused on the reconstruction and recovery process, the Consolidated Appeal Process, or CAP, dealt with the humanitarian issues sumunding IDPs and refugees. Unfortunately, the CAP was pushed into the shadows and greater emphasis was placed on reconsttuction. Humanitarian appeals became uninteresting and subsequently under-funded.

Owing to insewnty and the presence of combatants in areas outside of Monrovia during the spring, the prediction that massive numbers of displaced populations would spontaneously retum to their homes was not realized. Today, their ability to retum is hampered by limited employment opportunities and access to basic social services in their home communities. As a result 262,000 IDPs remain in overcrowded camps around Monrovia. This critical humanitarian situation has neither been included in the reporting process nor taken into account in the planning for reconstnrction.

Until lDPs retum home there will continue to be critical humanitarian demands, including pmviding basic food, shelter and medical care. Additional funding is required to allow the displaced persons to retum safely and securely to their home communities and start rebuilding their lives. The IDPs should be afforded the same principles of protection as the

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Cancems of the International No0 Comnunity ARt Review of Liberia's RFTF, The Wodd Bank- 24 Setornber 2oM

refugees and ex-combatants. The realization of their basic human rights shouldn't be subject to poor planning, political motivations or financial constraints.

DDRR process The high numbers of disarmed and demobilized combatants is a great achievement, but these impressive numbers only capture part of the story. Many key players in UNMIL perceived the DDRR process as a purely "military" exercise. As a result, lack of parb'cipation by other stakeholders has had a negative and potentially harmful impact on the process.

First, hard and fast principles for dealing with child combatants, such as those established by the Cape Town principles, were not appropriately disseminated amongst the policy makers and implementers and led to unclear approaches and disagreements. This has ultimately impacted protection for child combatants and inhibited access to the DDRR process by children associated with the fighting forces (CAFF). This has far reaching consequences for the future of every Liberian child.

Second, there was a lack of planning for Reintegration and Rehabilitation and too much emphasis on Disarmament and Demobilization. Collecting weapons and demobilizing combatants is only part of the solution. Experience has demonstrated that in the interest of rebuilding a healthy society, reintegration programs must be implemented from the very beginning and must involve an integrated community -based approach. Donor support and commitment to longer-term community reintegration is required to prevent remitment and re- recruitment. Demobilized combatants, and child combatants in particular, must be presented with a viable altemative to military life. For example, many of the children who fought in the war hope to retum to school; yet, often this is impossible. Education projects remain severely under funded by the intemational community. Schools in Liberia still lack the most basic infrastnrcture and supplies. Educational facilities are critical not only for developing intellectual capacity, but they provide a place for protection, a means of psychosocial support, and facilitate the reintegration of child combatants. Functioning schools are mcial to the restoration of social cohesion and normalization of all sectors of the mflict-affected population. It should be added that special measures should be made to ensure equal access to education for girls-induding adolescent girls.

I have outlined a number of problems that we, in the INGO community, have identified within the process and with respect to the implementation of the Results Focused Transitional Framewok We applaud this pioneering framework as well as the cumnt review process in which we are engaged.

Given the key role Liberia plays to the overall stability-and instability-of the region of West Africa, govemments must respond with a strategy of long-term assistance. The Monitoring and Steering Group, on behalf of the community of intemational NGOs operating in Liberia, urges those present to futfill their country's pledges made last February and provide the much- needed assistance Liberia must have to move along the arduous road to recovery. The situation is urgent To ensure a smooth and stable transition from years of conflict to a durable and sustainable peace, Liberia must have significant support and sustained attention.

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LIBERIA RFTF Review Meeting 24 September 2004 in Washington

24 September 2004 in Washington

A. What have been the most serious institutional and operational bottlenecks encountered in the cluster?

1. Unclear interface between UNMIL DDRR Program and planned AFL restructuring

2. MOD records destroyed and need to redocument AFL personnel

3. Need to fund pension retirement programs 4. Identi fy mil i tary budget sustainment level

Liberia can afford Rreahoat Sessioii 1 : Security, Disarmament & Demobilization Attach additional notes from the Breakout Session.

1 LIBERIA RFTF Review Meeting 24 September 2004 in Washington

C. What are the Group’s priorityrecommendations in relation to the upcoming revision o f the RFTF?

1. Redocumentation o f AFL- 2. Identify total mil i tary costs and sustainability

level 3. Identi fy military-civilian c iv i l works co-

operation 4. UNMIL-MOD sensitization program

I Breakour Sessioii 1: Security, Disarmament & Demobilization Attach additional notes from the Breakout Session.

i LIBERIA RFTF Review Meeting 1 t 24 September 2004 in Washington

B. If there are funding shortfalls, how can they be addressed? If pledges were confirmed, are the disbursement levels satisfactory? If not, why not?

1. Only the U S A has pledged funds; need for more partners

2. Identify areas where other donors have interests, e.g. infrastructure

Uirrl.oiit Sessloii 1: Security, Disarmament & Demobilization Attach additional notes from the Breakout Session.

A. What have been the most serious institutional and operational bottlenecks encountered in the cluster?

1. Length o f time to deploy forces and disarm combatants 2. Absence o f single comprehensive national plan for all

reintegration (IDP, Refugees, ex-combatants) 3. Govemment slowness and lack o f capacity to

operationalize available money 4. Lack o f linkages between reintegration efforts and plans 5. Lack o f clear presentation o f priorities for donors Brrnkout Session 2: Reintegration of Ex-combatants, Refugees, IDPs,

and Host Communities in the Context ofCDD Attach additional notes from the Breakout Session.

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LIREMA KFTF Review Meeting 24 k p t c m k r 2W4 in H’ashin&:tun

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C. What are the Group's priority recommendations in relation to the upcoming revision of the FUTF?

1. Political Dimension: reassert effective leadership and coordination

2. Monitoring: become more pro-active and attentive to details

3. Basic infrastruckze: small steps bring b ig gains Brcniast %:wloai 3: Economic Policy aud Development Strategy Attach additjonal notes @om the Breakout Session.

I

B. If there are funding shortfalls, how ean they be addressed? I f pledges were confirmed, are the disbursement levels satisfactory? If not, why not?

I. There have been no disbursements- 2. Shortfall in funding, as per needs assessment,

$100 mill ion

B P L L ~ ~ W Scwloe 4: lnfrastnrclw Anach addihonal notes from the Breakout Session.

A. What Rave been the most serious institutional and operational bottlenecks encountered in the cluster?

I. Lack o f continuity among participants in the cluster

2. Outreach to NGOICBO insufficient

Eirsskout ficsslos 4: In t iashsme Attach additional plates from L e Breakout Session.

I

C. What are the Group's priority recommendations in relation to the upcoming revision of the RFI'F?

1. Need to establish a link between RR and infrastructure in terms o f employment generation

2. Need to attract the African Development Bank 3. Seek private sector participation through

management contracts in the utilities consistent with experience in other post-conflict countries

Breah3st Sesrlon .d: lnfrastnrchue Attach additional notes from the Breakout Session.

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A. What have been the most serious institutional and operational bottlenecks encountered in the cluster?

1. Lack of transparency and accountability in al! areas o f government; leading to corruption

2. Lack o f operational capacity in govement ministries, agencies, and ofices

3. RFTF’s section on judiciary is inadequate 4. Differing interpretations o f the Comprehensive Peace

Agreement 5. Delay in the passage of the elections package by ihe

NTLA Bi eraoat Seerton 5: Governance and the Rule ofLaw and Elections Attach additional notes from the Breakout Session.

C. Wtrat are the Gro~p’s priority recommendations in relation to the upcoming revision ofthe RFTF?

6. Need to secure countryside to ensure resettlement that i s essential for successful elections

2. Prioritization o f needs in revision o f RFTF (focus on functions required for elections)

3. Emhasize success ofclusters 1,2, and 3, to success o f elections

Wrcrkarrr Scadon 5: Gowrnance and the Rule o f h w and Elections Attach additional notes iiom the Breakout Session.

B. If there are funding shortfalls, how can they be addressed? If pledges were confirmed, me the disbursement levels satisfactory? If not, why not?

1. NEC - Lack o f funding for country offices and operations-

2. Uneven payment o fc iv i l service salaries

ipvrnkoora? Session 5: Govemanct a d the Rule o f h w and Elections Attach additional notea f” the Breakout Semion.

A. What have been the most serious institutional and 0pemti0~1 bottlenecks encountered in the cluster?

1. Lack o f capacity in government and national counterparts

2. Lack of horizontal coordination 3. Lack o f outreach from RWCs 4. Currently, the cross-cutting issues are not

addressed in the RFTF matrix

Bwahoiit ~ S I C O I I 6: Strategies for &ins&ng Cross-cutting issues Attack additional nabs from the Breakout Session.

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B. If there are funding shortfalls, how can they be addressed? If pledges were confimied, are the disbursement levels satisfactory? I f not. why not’?

1, Difficult to determine required level o f funding

f%:~ ,A t> t ! f h i s i m h: Strategies for Mainstreaming Cross-

Attach additional notes from the Breakout Session. cutting Issues

C.

4.

5.

What are the Group’s priority recommendations in relabon to the upcoming revision o f the RFTF? Prioritized capacity-building needs for the cross- cutting sectors should be build into the RFTF We need to take into account work that has already been done (National Women’s Conference, Environmental Seminar and Task Force, and LFI)

8rc;~Loaz besiiink L: Srralegies for Mainsaeaming Cross-cutting Issues Attach additional notes from the Breakour Session.

C. What are the Group’s priority recommendations in relation to the upcoming revision o f the RFTF?

1. Need to be prioritized deliverables from the cross-cutting themes that are budgeted and included in the revision cif the RFTF Specific approaches, including the development o f indicators, should be developed to incorporate the cross-cutting issues into the RFTF Additional support should be provided from the RSO and RWCs

2.

3.

lhrai\oiit Sesrioii (I: Saategies for Mainswarning Cross-cutting Issues Attach additional nates from the Breakout Session.

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Reflections on G r o u p W o r k David N a b a r r o

On b e h a l f o f UNDG

I

Focus on Absolute Priorities

Reintegration - Ex-combatants, refugees, IDPs Employment Electoral process and follow-up Accountabil ity and Transparency in government Infrustructure - rural and urban, with a good regulatory context Shelter and environments Women and children

Pride at Progress: Must do more W e cannot expect perfection after 6 months. There is a Framework used to guide and track implementation, money i s coming in and being used; But i t i s a tightrope: country has been at war, and re- integrating people into society i s a priority; NTGL, UN, Wor ld Bank and Donors must unite w i th Liberian society to address massive needs

are not enough, at a l l levels

and a determined focus o n results

Planning, implementation and management capacity

Mus t speed up, with better linkages between clusters,

The cross cutting issues must have more attention

b

Themes for RFTF review I Encourage all round Confidence in Transition Process :

Create a climate in which it is impossible for donors NOT to release pledged funds - in RFTF context;

1 Track Progress: L igh t touch, inclusive, tracking and management processes focusing on priorities: fewer clusters

1 Emphasise Locality-level action : Community-level needs, security, employment opportunities, availability o f infrastructure, access to basic services, stakeholders involved, by region - and county: UN and NTGL to link with, and empower c i v i l society to improve living conditions o f a l l people (esp women and children)

structures to strengthen rule o f law, elections, 9 Encourage the practice of Leadership: include traditional

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Principles for al l

Expenditure Control Call unethical behaviour to account Break the Bottlenecks Improve the reality of life for all Liberians Women and Children are the future D o it .....

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Mr. Mats Karlsson, Country Director for Liberia, World Bank

Closing: Statement

A summary, in three parts:

First, the progress that we have made, needs to be celebrated. I t i s important to be aware that we have moved forward. The Chairman’s speech this morning laid out a number o f things that have actually been happening. I also take Nicky’s point that she doesn’t believe that the way we are monitoring what’s happening i s capturing the entire picture, and I also take the point made by many, David, last o f them, that the RFTF i s actually being used the way it was intended.

Second, the challenges we face. They are many, and they are very significant. The one central point i s that we do need leadership, cohesive leadership on the side o f the NTGL. W e know why this is difficult, but it i s what needs to be done if the partnership i s to fal l in place. I t i s a sine qua non, and this is not to make anyone feel uncomfortable, but we al l know the challenge that we have to deliver in these coming two years. At the core o f this, as the Vice President o f the World Bank remarked, is making sure that the flow o f money through the public system works. If it doesn’t work, we will be back to (humanitarian colleagues forgive me) Humanitarian work. W e cannot move out o f the humanitarian approach if we do not get full control o f the way revenues f low through the system, are managed, and end up in procurement, and results. This is the blood-flow o f any country, and the progress on this front is too slow. We know it, and we need to address it, and I am encouraged by the commitment o f key members o f the NTGL to do it. The clock i s ticking. If we don’t pull i t off, i t will have consequences in terms o f the arrears clearance process. We know what i s at stake here, and w e cannot fai l on this front. I think that point was made very forcefully here today. A number o f other serious shortfalls. Picking up on the six points that you made here this moming, Christian. The RR, jobs, the three-pronged food-shelter-sanitation issue, the judicial reforms, elections, infrastructure, and corruption. These are the challenges that we have to deal with.

What about the third area, the way ahead? First o f all, we will fol low up on this meeting through the RFTFRSO. That is our responsibility. Secondly, we are going to use the mechanisms, the RIMCO, the working groups, and pick up what has been said here. Thirdly, we carry out the Revision o f the RFTF in the coming months, enriching the contents, focusing on M & E, doing some serious revisions, as was said in relation to clusters 1, 2, and 3. Fourthly, we wil l take the One-team approach for real. That was the way we came into this, and it remains the only guarantee that we will move forward. I t has to do with behavior, with sharing information, sharing our concerns, being straightforward. Unless we do that, w e will not be able to find the answers. I t has to do with focusing on results o n the ground. I look at that as two sides o f the same coin: one team and results on the ground. Fifth point, this has not been a pledging conference.

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W e have identified gaps in funding and are aware o f what was pledged, and we have the tracking sheet showing where - to what clusters - this money is intended to go. W e do think that we have some thinking to do as to why the $522 mil l ion are almost fully pledged and yet we have serious financing gaps in some areas. W e need to check up o n flexibility, on delivery, and to make sure that the funds which have already been committed can actually f low to the intended purposes. But we also know that there will be serious gaps, and those representing founders o f the RFTF here need to take note o f this and prepare the way ahead. Because when we meet again in six months to review the one-year results, we need to demonstrate delivery.

Lastly, we should not be surprised that we feel a moment o f seriousness as we come together again some months after the peace agreement. You lay out your plans, you are inspired, you get that good feeling o f wanting to change things. A bit down the road, reality shows itself, the assessments become clearer and the difficulties are more “in your face”. But that i s when the responsibility o f the team that is here, in this room gathered today, becomes clear. Can we overcome these difficulties or are we going to let them stop us from getting to where we want? This i s the moment where we have to rise above those difficulties and make sure that we move ahead. W e are indeed at a cross- road. W e had the privilege o f a very high level panel this morning. But we need to bring the panel’s statements high up on the agenda. W e cannot let the challenges o f Liberia, and o f West Africa, the sub-region more generally, be pushed o f f the agenda, even by high political priorities elsewhere. W e know the importance o f this to Africa, and o f course to the people o f Liberia. So le t us now go home, do our homework. But le t us also bring our findings to the attention - at the top political level - o f Liberia’s partners. Because without that support and attention, we will not cross the thresholds we want to cross.

This i s the summary I would l i ke to offer you. I want to thank you al l for being here.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page No.

Summary Statement ..................................................................................................... i

Annex I

Annex I1

Annex I11

Annex I V

Annex V

Annex V I

Annex VI1

Annex VI11

Annex IX

Annex X

Annex XI

Annex XI1

Agenda. ............................................................................................ 1

List o f Participants ........................................................................... 3

Opening Remarks by the World Bank ............................................ 13 MY. Callisto Madavo, Vice President of Africa Region

Opening Remarks by the National Transitional Government o f Liberia Hon. C. Gyude Bryant, Chairman ................................................ 16

Opening Statement by UNMIL Mr. Jacques Paul Klein, SRSG ..................................................... 31

Opening Statement by USAD Mr. Andrew S. Natsios, Administrator ......................................... 41

Opening Statement by UNDG Mr. David Nabarro, Technical Coordinator ................................ 47

Statement by RIMCO Hon. Christian Herbert, Secretary ............................................... 49

Statement by INGO Ms. Nicky Smith, Programme Director ........................................ 57

Presentation o f Outcome o f Group Discussions .............................. 62

Presentation by UNDG “Reflections on Work Group”

Mr . David Nabarro.. ............................................................... .67

Closing Remarks by the Wor ld Bank Mr. Mats Karlsson, Country Director .......................................... 69


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