• Survey
• Focus Groups
• Formative Evaluation

After 14 years of civil war (1989 – 2003), Liberia is experiencing a ceasefire brokered by Presidents Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, Olusengun Obosanjo of Nigeria, and John Kuffour of Ghana. Those were 14 horrid years during which approximately 300,000 people died and millions more suffered both internal and external displacement. Under the theme of the international community “Ballots not Bullets”, Liberians elected Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in 2005, making her the first female president of an African State. Liberia stands tall today to say “I have been free of violent conflict for over five years”.

For a country which has relapsed into conflict after past ceasefire agreements, transitions, and elected governments, the past five years bear the promise of lasting peace. Destroyed infrastructures and roads are undergoing construction, pipe-borne water and electric current are being restored to some parts of the country, and physical beautification and improvement are taking place in most places. Notwithstanding, capital improvements are not enough. Liberia also needs to invest in it most important resource, its youthful human capital.

Five years present a solid foundation upon which to add more building blocks in the post-conflict reconstruction process.  Special attention needs to be devoted to Liberia’s children, who have been tragically traumatized on a vast level by the war. So investing in peace education and trauma alleviation will reap a sustainable peace result in Liberia’s post conflict reconstruction.