Cities Alliance Annual Report 2018

The Country Programme also supported FEPTIWUL by developing a fact sheet with
information about who they are, where they operate, and their leadership structure.
The fact sheet helped FEPTIWUL establish itself as a known presence negotiating for
informal traders in Liberia.
Engaging stakeholders to develop a National Urban Policy for Liberia
Through the Country Programme, UN-Habitat is facilitating the development of a
National Urban Policy in partnership with the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The policy
aims to integrate the urban economy into national development policies and help
create the conditions for Liberia to achieve its long-term development goal of
reaching middle-income status by 2030.
In 2018, the National Urban Policy discussion paper was finalised with stakeholders.
The second phase of the activity has already started, which involves engaging with
a wide range of stakeholders for a more participatory approach. This engagement will
be countrywide through mechanisms including the National Urban Forum, regional
visits, and roundtable discussions to ensure ownership of the policy.
Implementing the Community Upgrading Fund (CUF)
In 2018, the Country Programme team in Monrovia began implementing the
Community Upgrading Fund, which provides financing for small infrastructure
projects selected by the communities themselves. Using the data collected by SDI
and YMCA during the profiling activity, communities were placed at the centre of the
Country Programme to convene settlement forums and identify their priority needs,
such as building toilet facilities, renovating a school, or establishing water points.
Once communities have agreed on priority projects, they are submitted to the
CUF steering committee for approval and vetted for feasibility. The steering
committee comprises representatives from all stakeholders: The Cities Alliance
Liberia team, the Ministries of Internal Affairs and Public Works, the Slum Upgrading
Unit, local governments, non-governmental organisations, slum dwellers and street
vendors. The CUF then provides funding for the projects, which are managed and
implemented by the community. The Liberia Country Programme team has engaged
a local construction firm, which will in turn hire community members to do the work.
For the water projects, the team helps the communities interact with the Liberia Water
Corporation to approve the sites and ensure adequate water pressure.
Construction of
school in West Point
Monrovia.
Photo: Cities Alliance
14 Cities Alliance