FBA:s work with Liberia
It has been more than 20 years since the civil wars in Liberia ended and a peace agreement was signed. Yet many of the key drivers of the conflicts remain, and the path towards sustainable peace is marked by grievances and tensions. Despite this, Liberia has taken significant steps towards becoming a stable and peaceful democratic society. FBA supports young people’s participation in peace processes and the democratization of public institutions and the security sector.
The 2023 elections, the first general elections since the civil wars to be held without a UN presence, represented an important milestone. Today, Liberia can be seen as a role model in West Africa.
However, the country continues to face widespread poverty, corruption, impunity, gender discrimination and weak state institutions. Access to health care, education and functioning markets is limited. The economy and politics remain dominated by a small elite, and unresolved land rights continue to be a major conflict driver.
The social contract in Liberia is weak, and in people’s daily lives, traditional systems often play a more prominent role than the state.
Nevertheless, many women and men, young and old, from civil society, the public sector and the private sector, are working with strong commitment to advance Liberia’s development. Following the largely peaceful elections in 2023, the conditions for progress are better than they have been for many years.
FBA works in the following areas to promote peace, security and development.
Dialogue, Peace Mediation and Youth
Nearly 75 percent of Liberia’s population is under the age of 30. Despite this, many young women and men are excluded from political decision-making and socio-economic opportunities, limited by stereotypical and gendered perceptions of youth as potential perpetrators of violence or victims.
Young people’s leadership, particularly outside the capital, is essential for conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
Since 2018, FBA and Liberian partners have trained young peace leaders from all 15 counties, strengthening their knowledge and skills to prevent, manage and resolve conflicts in their communities.
Since 2021, FBA has also supported teams of young peacebuilders through mentorship and tailored advisory support as they plan and implement local dialogue processes.
In addition, FBA supports the Liberian government’s efforts to develop policies for continued reconciliation.
Rule of Law
Weak state institutions and widespread corruption have resulted in low public trust in Liberian authorities, especially in rural areas. A decentralization process is underway to ensure basic public services for the population across the country.
FBA trains and coaches public officials in Liberia on rule of law principles, the role of civil servants and professional ethics, as well as the importance of transparency and accountability.
Cooperation between the state and civil society is key to strengthening trust between citizens and government. FBA has therefore established a reference group focused on rule of law principles, which has become a central platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange between state and civil society. The work has placed special emphasis on professional ethics, anti-corruption, transparency, participation and non-discrimination in public administration.
Within FBA’s work on rule of law promotion, the Liberian Civil Service Agency is a key partner. Together with the reference group and with support from FBA, the first-ever introductory training for civil servants integrating a rule of law perspective has been implemented.
Security Sector Reform
The Liberian security sector, including the police, faces major challenges. In some parts of the country, it lacks presence, and people in rural areas often rely on informal actors for their safety.
To strengthen the state’s reach, County Security Councils have been established in every county in Liberia, reporting to the National Security Council. FBA has carried out two training programmes to support key actors in both the county-level councils and the national council.
The aim is to make their work more effective and to strengthen transparency, accountability and democratic oversight of the security sector. FBA also provides advisory support to the ongoing review of the national security strategy, ensuring that the process is inclusive and considers the security needs of different groups.
Phasing out the mission
FBA’s mandate in Liberia will conclude at the turn of the year 2025–2026. During the remainder of 2025, FBA will focus on phasing out its operations.