Liberia

Liberia needs help from the international community to ensure a stable situation in the country in the aftermath of the brutal civil war. In a strategy to reduce poverty, the country has made a plan for the transition from conflict to long-term development. Norway's assistance to Liberia has largely taken place in cooperation with the authorities, although assistance has been channelled through the UN and civil organisations.

The Norwegian focus:

• Energy
• Human rights
• Follow-up of Resolution 1325
• Combating sexualised violence

Important debt cancellation

The cancellation of the country's foreign debt was a milestone in 2010. Extensive rebuilding efforts are required in the country as a consequence of the 14-year long civil war that ended in 2003. In 2007 the country's total debt was approximately NOK 27 billion. "Liberia incurred its debt before the civil war started. The debt has been a considerable obstacle to the rebuilding of the country," Erik Solheim, Norwegian Minister of the Environment and International Development said in a press release.

The Norwegian government agreed to cancel Liberia's entire debt to Norway. A total of NOK 422 million was cancelled.

The debt cancellation is a result of Liberia's participation in HIPC (Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative). The agreement was signed in the creditor countries' joint forum, the Paris Club. This debt cancellation will not be debited to the Norwegian development budget and will not affect Norway's development cooperation with other countries.

Focus on clean energy

Today approximately one and a half billion of the world's population live without access to electricity. One billion has only occasional access to electricity. 85 per cent of the rural population in Africa has no access to electricity at all and in large cities around the world the power shortages are becoming worse. Liberia's capital, Monrovia, also struggles with power shortage. Since the autumn of 2009, Norway and Liberia have entered into two important agreements regarding Norwegian support for reconstruction and operation of the power supply in Monrovia.

The aim is to supply houses and government institutions with electricity, and to set up street lights. Norwegian funds have also been used for diesel generators and contributed to bringing electricity back to large parts of the capital. This is vital in terms of safety, and to prepare the ground for the start-up of business activities. It is expected that prompt access to power will also contribute to stability and reduce the risk for a new conflict. The example illustrates that sometimes there is no time to plan for a greener development; hence there may be conflicting environmental and developmental considerations. (White Paper 14: Towards greener development – On a coherent environmental and development policy)

The funds also contribute to reducing the use of charcoal and wood. Cleaner energy sources improve the indoor air quality, which again has a positive impact on health. Furthermore women and children save time spent on collecting wood.

In 2011 the Norwegian government decided to double its clean energy support globally. Norway's total clean energy support is now NOK 1.6 billion. The largest increase in energy consumption in the next 50 years is expected to take place in developing countries like Liberia. Focus on clean energy is therefore regarded as important in order to slow down climate change.

Combating violence against women

A new, modern Women and Children Protection Section of the Liberia National Police has been fully financed by Norway. This unit is specially made for victims of sexualised violence, and has been developed in close cooperation with UNDP.

Norway emphasises prevention efforts and treatment, but also police investigation and punishment of perpetrators. Furthermore, it is important to find solutions to the great challenges related to police investigation, the courtrooms' limited capacity, and the limited rehabilitation possibilities in the prisons.

The street lights in Monrovia will also contribute to a safer environment for women outside at night.

Strengthening police

Nine Norwegian officials serve in the UN operations in Liberia in line with the UN Security Council resolution on the establishment of an international police force. The mandate is a multi-dimensional peace operation where approximately 620 international police officers – in addition to military personnel – are stationed to ensure a safe environment for the country's inhabitants. The main tasks of the force include education, training and follow-up of the police reform.

Humanitarian efforts

The crisis unfolding in the Ivory Coast during the first half of 2011 has caused a further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Liberia. The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has played an important role in the work of receiving refugees from the neighbouring country and in the long-term work of resolving land rights conflicts.

The NRC's extensive humanitarian efforts in the country are related both to the ongoing crisis in the border areas between the Ivory Coast and Liberia and to the more long-term work of resolving land rights conflicts.

As a result of the NRC's efforts, it is now easier for refugees to return and cultivate their land without fear of new conflicts. The Liberian authorities have repeatedly expressed their appreciation for the NRC's efforts in the country.