Assessment of Liberia's reconstruction needs

Under the guidance of the National Transitional Government of Liberia and coordination of the UN Development Group, the United Nations joined with the World Bank and the US government and other partners to conduct an in-depth evaluation of Liberia's reconstruction needs in December 2003. UNDP played a pivotal role in identifying the priority reconstruction requirements during Liberia's transition from relief to recovery.

The needs assessment examined 13 priority sectors requiring urgent reconstruction. These sectors were grouped into nine clusters: security; disarmament, demobilization, rehabilitation and reintegration; reintegration of internally displaced persons, returnees and refugees; governance and rule of law; election; basic services; productive capacity and livelihoods; infrastructure; and economic policy and development strategy. The results of the needs assessment process are the basis for the 5-6 February International Reconstruction Conference on Liberia at the United Nations in New York.

UNDP technical experts coordinated six of the 13 sector assessments:
• Disarmament, demobilization, rehabilitation and reintegration
• Governance and rule of law
• HIV/AIDS
• Electricity
• Community-based reintegration

Based on the priority needs in the 13 sectors, the transitional government developed a Results-Focused Transition Framework that lays out its expected target outcomes. UNDP supported the government in organizing National Stakeholders Consultations and a High-Level Summit during which the framework document and needs assessment process were endorsed.

The needs assessment estimates Liberia's needs in the priority sectors at US $ 487.7 million for 2004-2005.

UNDP's activities in Liberia fall within six pivotal areas aimed at helping deepen the peace and improve the lives of the country's people: disarmament, demobilization, rehabilitation and reintegration; governance; HIV/AIDS; electricity; and community-based reintegration.