Sida's work in Liberia
In Liberia, Sida supports work for democracy and human rights, sustainable peace, economic development for everyone and environmental climate protection. Liberia is one of the world's poorest countries but has gradually developed towards democracy, peace and stability.
Why does Sida work in Liberia?
Widespread poverty
Due to a very limited state budget as well as corruption, the state and the justice system struggle to deliver social services to which citizens are entitled. Poverty is widespread, with almost 70% of the population living on USD 3.65 a day.
Unequal society
Gender inequality and discrimination are present in most sectors of society. Only 11 per cent of members of parliament are women. Violence against women, girls and LGBTIQ people is widespread. A large part of the female population is subjected to genital mutilation and abortion rights are restricted.
Threats to natural resources
Liberia has many natural resources, but weak governance and climate change put great strain on ecosystems.
Examples of what Sida contributes to
Strengthening peace
Sida helps to strengthen peace in the country, for example by reducing poverty and improving the legal system. Sida supports efforts for fair distribution of land and strengthens social cohesion among young people, contributing to a more peaceful society.
Access to reproductive health combats female genital mutilation
Sida helps to increase access to contraception, sex education and safe abortion. This work has prevented around 60 000 unwanted pregnancies. Sida also contributes to the fight against genital mutilation. After a decade of work at local and national level, a national ban on female genital mutilation was adopted in February 2023.
Economic development for more people
The economy is on the rise and inflation has been pushed back, although many people still live in poverty. Sida contributes to enable free enterprise, give the private sector access to new markets and prepare young people for the labour market of the future.
Increasing access to renewable electricity
The government of Liberia has the ambition to manage and utilise the country’s natural resources more sustainably, although progress is slow. Sida contributes to the sustainable use of Liberia’s natural resources and increased access to renewable energy.
Development cooperation in Liberia
Sida’s work in Liberia focuses on increased equality, respect for human rights, a peaceful and democratic development, an economy that benefits all people, and the fair distribution of resources. Sida also supports programmes and projects in the climate area, for example to ensure that natural resources are used more sustainably and that more people have access to renewable energy.
Democracy has been strengthened in Liberia, but few women have political power. Women, girls and LGBTI people are vulnerable – they have less access to healthcare, property, justice and education. Violence against girls, women and other vulnerable groups is widespread. Teenage pregnancies are common and nearly 70 per cent of uneducated girls are mothers. Maternal mortality has decreased but remains among the highest in the world, partly due to severely restricted abortion rights. Liberia’s civil society is active and the country’s media is relatively free.
Sida supports democratic development, strengthening human rights and increasing gender equality. Here are some examples of programmes and projects that Sida supports:
Economic injustice creates poverty and unrest. Sida is supporting cooperation between the Swedish Tax Agency and the Liberian Revenue Authority to make the country’s tax system more efficient.
Sida works with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and supports the local election observation network LEON. Swedish support was important for the conduct of the national elections at the end of 2023, which were characterised by a high turnout and were generally assessed as free, fair, transparent, peaceful and inclusive.
Sida supports the efforts of RFSU (Swedish Association for Sexuality Education) to ensure that everyone in Liberia is free to decide about their own body and sexuality, regardless of their influence or economic situation. RFSU trains civil society organisations in body empowerment, sexuality and the rights of young people, women and LGBTIQ people.
Sida is supporting the National Association for Sexual Education (RFSU) in its efforts to ensure that everyone in Liberia is free to decide on their own body and sexuality, regardless of influence and economic situation. RFSU trains civil society organisations in bodily autonomy, sexuality and rights for young people, women and LGBTIQ people.
Sida supports Kvinna till Kvinna (Woman to Woman), which works together with local organisations to promote gender equality in Liberia. Kvinna till Kvinna supports survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, supports women to become financially independent and to participate in politics. It also aims to increase access to services regarding sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Through ActionAid and UN Women, Sida contributes to the fight against female genital mutilation (FGM). After a decade of work at local and national level, a historic national ban on FGM was passed in February 2023. UN Women is working to influence government and traditional leaders to comply with this ban. ActionAid raises awareness of health risks and women’s rights.
Liberia remains peaceful almost two decades after the civil war and important steps have been taken to build sustainable peace. But many of the root causes of the war remain, such as the inequitable distribution of land.
Sida contributes to strengthening peace in the country by addressing conflict-driving factors such as high poverty and a weak justice system. Sida also supports programmes and projects that strengthen peacebuilding through, for example, equitable land distribution and strengthening social cohesion among young people. Here are some examples of programmes and projects that Sida supports:
Ownership, control of, and access to land is one of the main causes of conflict in the country. ForumCiv is working to ensure that Liberia’s land rights law is implemented in a way that benefits local communities. ForumCiv strengthens partnerships between communities and social movements that have similar experiences and challenges in relation to land rights. In this way, civil society can ensure that the government is held accountable for what it has promised. There is a particular focus on women’s land rights.
Lantmäteriet (The Swedish Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registration Authority) i is committed to increasing women’s participation in land management, including scholarships that enable women to further their education in land management. It also provides information in local languages on the basic rights of land ownership through talking books with pre-recorded messages in the languages spoken by the people themselves. It does not require an internet connection or electricity and the information is adapted to the local context.
Sida supports YMCA Liberia, which strengthens social cohesion between young people from different communities and local decision-makers. YMCA Liberia holds community dialogues and youth peace clubs, which enable young people to actively contribute to maintaining peace and strengthening social cohesion in Liberia.
Although Liberia’s economy is growing, more than half the population lives in poverty. The country faces several economic challenges, with a large informal sector and dependence on commodity exports. A lack of infrastructure hampers economic development, especially in rural areas. Poor roads also make it harder for people access school and healthcare, especially during the rainy season.
Liberia is one of the most difficult countries in the world to run formal companies due to complex regulations, corruption, limited access to electricity, poor infrastructure and trade barriers.
Sida contributes to increased employment for the country’s young population, increased agricultural production and better market access for farmers to sell their goods.
Here are some examples of programmes and projects that Sida supports:
Liberia’s population is young. The majority of those who have jobs lack vocational training and work in the informal economy with precarious conditions. Sida supports Mercy Corps, which works to increase employment among young people. The organisation provides career support, matches companies with job seekers and helps young people to start their own business.
Of those who have jobs, four out of ten work in agriculture where there is a great need for efficiency improvements. Most farmers grow crops for their own use. Sida is working to increase productivity in the agricultural sector and to increase farmers’ access to markets where they can sell their products, for example by supporting the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in developing markets that are accessible to all. This includes linking farms with buyers in the international market, developing certification and increasing traceability. The project builds on lessons learned from the previous GROW Liberia project.
Liberia’s infrastructure is poor. For example roads are poor and sometimes non-existent. The Liberian-Swedish Feeder Roads Project is rehabilitating rural roads to make it easier for people to move around and sell their goods and services. The roads also make it easier for people to access healthcare and education.
Liberia has many natural resources and biodiverse ecosystems. The West African tropical forest reduces carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. However, the management of natural resources is weak and puts great pressure on ecosystems. Environmental and climate change affects biodiversity and makes the country vulnerable.
Sida supports sustainable forestry and the sustainable use of the country’s natural resources. Sida also contributes to increased access to renewable energy, reducing plastic in the oceans and preserving mangrove forests. Limiting climate impact and increasing people’s resilience to climate change are other important aspects of the work.
Here are some examples of programmes and projects that Sida supports:
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) are supporting communities living near Liberia’s forests to find the balance between using forest resources and preserving them for future generations. The effort focuses on using natural resources sustainably, building resilience and promoting economic development that benefits all people.
Conservation International supports people in fishing communities to find the balance between utilising the ocean’s rich resources and preserving them for future generations. A more balanced use of natural resources also preserves the biodiversity of Liberia’s vital mangrove forest.
The Swedish and Liberian Red Cross are working together to support people in vulnerable communities in southeastern Liberia; communities that are already feeling the effects of climate change and need to equip themselves to avoid falling deeper into poverty.
Sida supports the Liberian civil society organisation Voseida, which enables small-scale farmers to abandon traditional slash-and-burn agriculture and switch to climate-smart farming. This contributes to both increased food availability and reduced climate impact.
Liberia is one of the countries with the least access to electricity in the world.13 Sida supports increased access to renewable energy through the Renewable Energy Adaption to Climate Technology (REACT) fund and the Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA). Both funds support private companies to invest in Liberia’s energy sector, with a focus on solar energy. In total, more than 600,000 people in Liberia are expected to be reached by various forms of energy services through REACT and BGFA.
Updated: September 9, 2024