Resolutions by participants of the National Round-Table Dialogue on County Social Development Funds (CSDF)

We, the participants (including local government officials, leaders of women and youth groups, civil society organizations and the media,) of the National Round-Table Dialogue on key issues affecting the implementation County Social Development Fund (CSDF), after a two-day deliberation on key issues affecting the implementation of the CSDF held on 14-15^th December 2017, have hereby resolved on the following as key issues affecting proper management of CSDF since its establishment in 2006.

Whereas the County Development Fund (CDF) and County Social Development Fund were established by an Act of Legislation in 2006 for the purpose of promoting and enhancing participatory development at the county level until they were merged in 2012,

Whereas the budget law which provides the legal framework for administering the CSDF is not detailed on a number of issues including, level of literacy, capability, and gender disaggregation of participants attending the County Council Sitting and related functions,

Whereas the Budget Law gives undue leverage to Legislative Caucuses overseeing decision-making processes regarding project formulation, implementation, and evaluations,      which  continues to undermine effective management of the CSDF and implementation of projects supported by it,

Realizing that information dissemination about the County Sitting is poor and that most individuals who attend the County Council Sitting do not report back to their community members on decisions reached at those meetings,

Further realizing the difficulties usually encountered by County Development Fund Management Committee (CDFMC) members in accessing, administering, and monitoring the CSDF as well as the challenges associated with those processes including conflict of interest, corruption, and delayed project implementation, we, the participants of the National Round-table Dialogue on “Key issues affecting the implementation of the CSDF” call for immediate implementation of the following actions:

1. That the Government of Liberia reviews and strengthens the Budget Law to ensure gender disaggregation and the caliber of persons attending the County Council Sitting to ensure maximum participation at all levels;
3. That the revised Budget Law ensure reduction in undue leverage of Legislative Caucuses during the County Council Sitting to ensure unbiased selection of people representing various districts and that projects formulated response to critical needs of communities, and that the processes are free of conflict of interests, corruption, and undue delays in project implementations;
4. That the mode of information dissemination about the County Council Sitting is clearly defined to enhance selection of the right kind of people representing community interests to ensure that participants feedback to their communities on decisions taken at County Council Sitting to enhance participation of community in project, selection implementation and evaluation processes;
5. That  difficulties associated with accessing, administering, and monitoring  the CSDF are addressed to ensure that the funds are not compromised as a result of kickbacks paid by individuals responsible for accessing the fund;
6. That blue prints of projects including bill of quantities be prepared far ahead of the County Council Sitting and copies shared with participants to avoid miss understating or overstating of project costs;
7. That projects supported by CSDF and / equipment bought with same carry sign boards or labels for the purpose of promoting visibility and accountability;
8. That there is increase in women and youth participation to play pivotal role in forming part and parcel of decision making as delegates rather than  observers during the county Council Sitting but delegate.
9. That new CSDF management body is established to be comprises of youth, women, district commissioners and elders.
10. That a resolution monitoring team be constituted to ensure that resolutions formulated at the County Council Sitting are exactly the same as the ones  that are released to the public after the County Council Sitting or implemented; and
11. That local communities establish and maintain cordial relationships with media institutions by getting their contacts and reporting all anomalies occurring in the various localities so as to promote peace and development of our beloved Liberia.

Group photo during the round table dialogue on the County Social Development Funds at  Crown Hotel -Paynsville city-Liberia funded by OXFAM Liberia