DEVELOPMENT DIALOGUE SEMINARSAfrica Food and Financial Crisis: World Bank, Government and CSO ResponsesThursday, April 23, 2009

Giuseppe Zampaglione TTL of the Liberia Cash for Work Temporary Employment ProjectAfrica Region – Human Development 2 – Social Protection

Development Dialogue on Values and Ethics Civil Society TeamHuman Development Network

1996 = 100Index of Real GDP, 1996-2007: 1996 = 100

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

US$890

Real GDP - 1966-2008

US$190

Less than US$100

Food price crisis

Food is a large share of consumption Rice makes almost 40% of the value of food

consumption Prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages

increased 25% from January 2007 to March 2008

And an additional 8% as of July 2008

Labour

Sources: 80% unemployed…… However. Core Welfare Indicators Questionnaire

2007 shows: Workforce of little more than 1m 11% is unemployed and 8% of those working

are undermployed Almost 50% of the employed workforce is

involved in unpaid work of low productivity Early 2007 – minimum wage at US$ 2.5

Bank Response US$10m from the GFRP, to : Support vulnerable women and children with WFP

to feed up to 62,000 children (3m) Support the agricultural supply response to reduce

post-harvest losses and increase the productivity of rice and cassava (4m)

Provide temporary employment through a Cash for work program (CfWTEP 3m), in particular create 680,000 person/days labor in 2 years (approximately 17,000 workers)

Highlights

1. Geographical targeting2. Tergeting of beneficiaries3. Wage level4. Implementation arrangements5. Role of IP/communities6. MTR/Survey7. Status

Geographical Targeting

1. All 15 counties2. 2006 UN Comprehensive Food Security and

Nutrition Survey (CFSNS) and adjusted with population figures

3. Existing LACE capacity4. Availability of banking facilities 5. Recommendation of the board of LACE6. Urban/rural balance (50-50)

Food Security

Targeting of beneficiaries

Earlier focus on ex-combatants (UNMIL, ILO, Mercy Corps, USAID); now on vulnerable;

Workers need to be at least 18 years old; Pregnant women are not allowed to work; No other benefit than the daily wage; The workforce includes at least 30% women

(in practice more than 50%) Role of IP, of communities and local

authorities

Wage level

As of 2007 the minimum wage was at US$ 2.5 a day. Originally the project was designed at a wage level of

US$ 2.5; However: 1) because of increase in prices during

2007 and 2008; 2) other agencies running similar programs at US$ 3.00; 3) various pressure – the daily wage was set at US$ 3.00 Self-targeting for 40 working days only.

This translates into 75% of the project cost to labour and materials and 25% management costs.

Implementation arrangementsThe Liberian Agency for Community Empowerement

(LACE) manages the projectLACE contracts Implementing Partners (IP) by county

to manage project operations and to report to LACE. IP work very closely with communities and local authorities.

ECOBANK makes the payments (either through its branches or by sending mobile teams with security)

LACE trasfers funds to ECOBANK to make payments, pay fees to IP, and procures and distributes equipments

LACE CF/CSO

Comm.

Ecobank

CountyCity

Worker

1. Selection

2. Contract

3. Funds

4. Reports

IDA

Implementation arrangements

Role of IP/communitiesIP interact with communities using participatory tools that LACE

has already developed for the CEP to: Select beneficiaries, to ensure that vulnerable families are given

priority; Disseminate information on the objectives of the project; Select appropriate Cash-for-Work activities; Maintain order on payment days; Provide feedback on activities; Liaise with local authorities to obtain government/county

authorizations and support; Strenghten communities Manage the distribution of tools to beneficiaries once the

program is over

MTR/Survey With Development Dialogue on Values and

Ethics unit, will survey 1000 beneficiaries Main Objectives:

Check on their income/assets situation (pre/post)

And on substitution effect Targeting and improvements to be made to

the Project If appropriate prepare the ground for additional

financing

Status as of March 2009County Direct Beneficiaries

(Workers) Direct and indirect

Beneficiaries Estimated transfers

(120 US$ per worker) First phase – completed Monserrado 1,000 5,000 120,000 Grand Bassa 1,000 5,000 120,000 Margibi 500 2,500 60,000 Nimba 1,000 5,000 120,000 Bong 1,000 5,000 120,000 TOTAL 4,500 22,500 540,000 Second Phase to be completed in July 2009 Lofa 1,000 5,000 120,000 Bomi 1,000 5,000 120,000 Bagbaulu 500 500 60,000 Cape Mont 500 500 60,000 Monserrado 500 500 60,000 Nimba 500 500 60,000 River Cess 500 500 60,000 TOTAL 4,500 22,500 540,000 GRAND TOTAL

9,000 45,000 1,080,000

F. ID card for benificiaries

Holder’s signature Authorized signature

Name: Lydia Belleh

Position: Beneficiary

Community: Paynesville Town Hall

LACEHorton Ave., Monrovia NAEAL

Broad Street, Monrovia

The bearer of this I.D. Card is a Beneficiary of the Cash for Works Temporary Employment Project, Paynesville Town Hall Community. If found please deliver to either of the above addresses or nearest the Police

Station.

Validity: October-December 2008

WORKING I.D. CARD

CASH for WORKS TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT PROJECT (CfWTEP)

ID# 001

BACK VIEW FRONT VIEW

Some working tools

Beneficiary Workers

Duport Waterside Community – Monserrado county

Thanks