Monrovia, Liberia: The Liberia Peacebuilding Office under the Ministry of Internal Affairs has released a report on the Social Cohesion and Reconciliation Index (SCORE Wave 4) today, July 30, 2024, aimed at guiding the preparation of Liberia's National Development Plan (NDP), the 15 Counties Development Agendas (CDAs), and the Public Sector Investment Plan (PSIP).
The Liberia Peacebuilding Office Report on Social Cohesion and Reconciliation in Liberia paints a concerning picture of the nation's livelihood security, highlighting significant territorial disparities.
The findings reveal that eight out of ten individuals struggle to provide food for their households, a stark indicator of widespread economic and food insecurity.
Nimba County stands out as having the highest levels of livelihood security with an index of 5.0. However, this still means that half of the population faces significant challenges in securing food and economic stability. While some counties have experienced mild improvements since 2021, the situation remains dire in others. For instance, Bassa County has reported a significant decline in livelihood security, with scores ranging between 1.5 and 2.0.
On a more positive note, the counties of Maryland and Bong have seen notable improvements in livelihood security since 2021.
However, these improvements are not sufficient to offset the overall alarming trends observed across the country.
Challenges for Women in Liberia
The report also sheds light on the ongoing gender disparities in Liberia.
Despite some positive signals regarding access to education, significant inequalities persist.
Since 2018, there has been an increase in the proportion of both men and women completing primary education.
Nevertheless, about one-third of Liberian women self-report lacking basic numeracy and literacy skills.
The gender gap is particularly stark in education, with more girls than boys not attending any formal schooling and more boys than girls attending secondary schooling.
Alarmingly, almost half of the women in rural areas have never attended school, which is double the rate
compared to other regions.
Traditional values and attitudes towards gender-based violence continue to hinder progress in addressing sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in the country.
The support for these values and the propensity for violence contribute to the slow pace of delegitimizing SGBV.
Civil Satisfaction and Trust in Institutions
The report also highlights a mixed picture regarding civil satisfaction in Liberia. From 2016 to 2023, Liberians perceived a slight improvement in their social and development situation.
Many believe that interactions between different ethnic and social groups have improved since 2018, suggesting progress in social cohesion.
However, this positive trend is overshadowed by a growing distrust in institutions. Since 2018, trust in these entities has decreased, and many citizens feel that their rights to security and socio-economic conditions have worsened.
Furthermore, the report indicates that citizens in most counties perceive deterioration in their living standards and personal security over the past five years.
This sentiment underscores the complex and multifaceted challenges that Liberia faces in achieving social cohesion and reconciliation.
As Liberia continues to navigate these challenges, the report emphasizes the urgent need for comprehensive and inclusive policies to address the deep-seated issues of livelihood security, gender inequality, and civil satisfaction.
The report laments that the road to recovery and progress remains long, requiring sustained efforts and commitment from all sectors of society.
Speaking at the event, Assistant Minister of Development Planning, J. Wellington Barchue, I. emphasized the crucial role of social cohesion in the country's development efforts. Minister Barchue indicated that the gathering will help guide the country in preparing its national development plan based on the counties' development agenda. “We are aware that in the absence of social cohesion and reconciliation, there will be no development," he stated.
Minister Barchue stressed that the government's primary focus should be on unifying the people through reconciliation. He noted that the presentation would provide a comprehensive overview of the country's progress over the years, offering valuable insights to strengthen programs and enable the Government of Liberia (GoL) to forge a cohesive development policy.
Also speaking at the launch of the Social Cohesion and Reconciliation Index, Calluchi Beiah, Program Officer at the Liberia Peacebuilding Office, further elaborated on the mission of the SCORE Wave 4 presentation. He explained that the index, conducted earlier this year, aims to present data on social cohesion and reconciliation in Liberia.
The strategy's objective is to share the comprehensive findings of the SCORE, highlighting key trends since 2016. The data reveals strong results from the drafting and implementation of the new ARREST development strategy, demonstrating the critical link between reconciliation and sustainable development.
As Liberia continues to plan and implement its national and local development agendas, the insights from the SCORE Wave 4 are expected to play a pivotal role in shaping policies that promote social cohesion and reconciliation, ensuring that all citizens benefit from the country's progress.