Liberia
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Photo: Cassandra Nelson/Mercy Corps
Our strategy
Accelerate Liberia’s economic development by addressing youth employment and local capacity-building.
The context
Although Liberia's economy is growing at an impressive rate — mainly because of price increases in extractive commodities such as rubber, palm oil and minerals — the current GDP is only one-eighth of what it was before the 1986-1996 and 1999-2003 civil wars. Corruption remains widespread, and social-welfare indicators are worse than most other countries. Three-quarters of the population lives below the poverty line of a U.S. dollar a day.
Our work
- Children & Youth: Increasing access to basic alternative education for out-of-school adolescents and young adults
- Economic opportunity: Connecting youth with apprenticeships and financial training and services to secure productive employment
- Emergency response: Meeting water and sanitation needs of refugees from Cote d’Ivoire
All stories about Liberia
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Liberia: Now Broadcasting Where No Other News Can Go November 16, 2005
Of the 193 countries in this world, perhaps none is more dysfunctional, impoverished and wretched than Liberia, a nation of three million people on the west coast of Africa.
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Liberia: In War's Aftermath, a New Model of Progress October 27, 2005
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Liberia: Hope is On the Horizon September 29, 2005
One hundred and fifty-eight years ago, freed slaves from the United States founded Liberia in hopes of creating an America where life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were truly inalienable rights. "The love of liberty brought us here" was enshrined as the West African nation's motto.
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Liberia: Community Radio Gets a New Lease on Life February 9, 2004
Interpress Service News Agency Abdullah Dukuly
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Liberia: Peace, but Misery Still Pouring Down in Liberia September 2, 2003
[Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the Edinburgh Evening News (Scotland) on August, 30 2003]
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Liberia: Mercy Corps Office Proves to be a Calm in the Midst of Liberia's Storm August 18, 2003
The recent shelling of Monrovia by belligerent forces, sent thousands of Monrovians and foreign nationals running helter skelter in search of safe refuge wherever such was available.
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Liberia: A View from Liberia July 25, 2003
[Editor's Note: The following answers are from a Liberian member of Mercy Corps' staff in Liberia in response to a series of questions from the Mercy Corps' headquarters staff.]
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Liberia: Mercy Corps Launches Emergency Water Program July 11, 2003
In response to evidence of increased cases of cholera and other waterborne diseases, Mercy Corps is launching an emergency water supply program in Liberia to help victims of civil war cut off from clean water.
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Liberia: Growing Concerns over Humanitarian Conditions in Liberia July 2, 2003
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Liberia: Mercy Corps Begins Peacebuilding Program in Liberia October 9, 2002
Mercy Corps has launched a five-year, $12 million initiative, the Community Peacebuilding and Development Program (CPBD), in war-torn Liberia.