Mid-term evaluation report. Liberia United Methodist Development Services Community Development Programme

Liberia United Methodist Development Services (LUMDS), the development arm of the United Methodist Church in Liberia (UMC), in partnership with the United Methodist Church in Norway (UMCN) is implementing the Community Development Programme (CODEVPRO) to provide access to some of the basic social services in rural areas of Liberia. The basic services provided include education, WASH, health and infrastructure, using the Partnership in Development (PiD) model. The PiD model is based on assumptions of empowerment, information, mind moulding and capacity building of communities to take lead in addressing own needs sustainably, and values participatory processes with a bottom-up principle. The model places the community at the center and mobilizes communities to initiate and participate in own development through awareness raising in various cross cutting areas, training of local project committees and maintenance committees, and letting them play a leading role in decision making and implementation of projects. To secure local ownership of the projects, there is a demand for local contribution including provision of land, local material and volunteer labour. Memorandum of Understandings (MOU) are signed between UMC and the Government and/or relevant community representatives to secure project activities and place the responsibility for the projects after completion.