Liberia

Year-end Overview

Plan Overview

Working environment

 
The political and security situation in Liberia is stable and no major security incidents have been reported since the Government assumed security responsibilities from the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) in June 2016 (date of complete withdrawal of UNMIL is 30^th March 2018 ). Current president’s second term comes to an end after the October 2017 general elections in which 22 candidates are vying for presidency. This will be the third consecutive peaceful election since the signing of the 2003 Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Liberia’s political environment does not pose any threat; however, the upcoming elections will take place during UNMIL reduced presence and following the transfer of security responsibility to the Government. 
 
The overall security situation along the borders remains calm, with no major imminent threats to overall security. Several cross-border initiatives are on-going, including the UN joint programme ‘Human security initiative in the most neglected communities with the integration of efforts by the UN Country Team in Liberia’; the UNDP enhanced border surveillance project; the UNDP post-Ebola surveillance and socio-economic recovery; and European Union-UNDP-ECOWAS small arms prevention project. The UN country teams in Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia have also developed a joint programme, ‘Cross-Border Cooperation between Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia for Sustainable Peace and Development’, which is under consideration by the Peacebuilding Fund and which is likely to be complemented by UNMIL assessed funding. The intention is to align the UNOCI and UNMIL assessed contributions’ cross-border projects with the joint programme, as experience in other settings demonstrates the importance of closely mirroring investments on both sides of the border. Strong ethnic linkages and familial bonds cut across all of Liberia’s borders.
 
In 2018, the operation will further strengthen its strategic partnerships with the Government of Liberia, humanitarian and development stakeholders and if necessary will sign memoranda of understanding with line ministries and other stakeholders for specific activities. UNHCR will integrate refugee programmes into local development strategies and ensure all activities are beneficial to both refugees and hosting communities.
 
 

Key priorities

 
In 2018 UNHCR will focus on:

• Supporting the Liberian government to develop a legal framework and strategic policies that would be the foundations for the implementation of local integration of refugees in Liberia;
• Handing the infrastructure in the camps over to the Government by transforming the refugee camps into settlement villages in the process of pursuing local integration;
• Integrating service delivery for refugees into country systems and phased handover of  responsibility to the government;
• Continuing support to the local infrastructure and capacity-building for smooth integration of services;
• Supporting people with specific needs with livelihood-related interventions in order to reinforce their self-reliance while advocating for their absorption into the national programmes. UNHCR recognizes that socio-economic integration of refugees prepares the refugees more adequately for legal integration;
• Supporting efforts to strengthen mechanisms to identify and assist people with specific needs.