Institutionalizing Participatory Processes in Liberia

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is in Washington, D.C. today to accept the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, an extraordinary honor to deliver to a sitting head of state from another country. While she meets with President Bush to accept this award, Liberia’s ministers are actively working to open the doors of government to the people and to institutionalize the participatory processes we take for granted in the United States. Liberia is developing its Poverty Reduction Strategy through open, participatory working groups organized under four key pillars (Security, Economic Revitalization, Governance and Rule of Law, and Infrastructure and Basic Services). Working groups comprise representatives from government, the private sector and civil society. The goals and objectives under the four pillars for the next three years are being debated and determined through this open dialogue involving all stakeholders who choose to participate.The draft goals and objectives of the national strategy are now being debated at the county level (Liberia has 15 counties). Citizens are walking as much as 12 hours in the rural areas to reach these development agenda meetings. Even as the sun goes down and the meeting rooms fall dark, people continue to talk and express their hopes and dreams for a better life – it’s the first time they’ve had the opportunity to inform their leaders of what they want to see in their communities. There is tangible excitement and enthusiasm as people talk about their challenges and offer ideas about how to address them. The debates are open, honest and productive. It’s an extraordinary time in Liberia.I wish everyone could sit in these meetings to feel the energy that exudes from people being heard by their government for the first time in many years. The Medal of Freedom is a fitting award for a transformative president who continues to lead a country to a better and freer future with greater opportunities for all Liberians.