By Amos Harris
The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) has released a comprehensive research report highlighting both progress and persistent shortcomings in the implementation of County Social Development Fund (CSDF) projects across six counties. The report was unveiled on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, during a press conference at CENTAL’s headquarters in Sinkor.
Addressing journalists, CENTAL Executive Director Anderson D. Miamen noted that while counties have received CSDF resources for years to spur local development and improve living conditions in underserved communities, the results remain mixed. Miamen explained that the CSDF is financed through social development payments from concession companies operating in the counties, alongside budgetary allocations from the national government. These funds are specifically intended to ensure that local communities benefit directly from the extraction of natural resources.
“This financing module has been a consequential pillar upon which people living in communities deprived of schools, medical facilities, and other infrastructure reap the benefits of their natural endowment,” Miamen stated.
The research was conducted under CENTAL’s National Integrity Building and Anti-Corruption Program, which is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) through the Embassy of Sweden in Liberia. The program covers Montserrado, Grand Bassa, Rivercess, Bomi, Gbarpolu, Bong, and Nimba counties. A key component of this effort is the Open Expenditure Initiative, which focuses on monitoring CSDF-funded projects by assessing transparency in project selection, tracking disbursement patterns, and evaluating the impact of resources on citizens, including women, youth, and persons with special needs.
The 2025 report, titled “Open Expenditure: Examining CSDF Projects in Six Counties,” was based on field visits conducted in June to Nimba, Bong, Grand Bassa, Bomi, Rivercess, and Gbarpolu. Researchers inspected more than 30 CSDF-funded projects, including schools, health facilities, markets, bridges, and administrative buildings, while interviewing county authorities and community representatives.
Findings indicate that while communities acknowledge progress—such as new school construction and renovations to health facilities—many residents expressed serious concerns regarding incomplete projects, significant delays, and the limited inclusion of vulnerable groups in decision-making processes. A primary issue identified is the continued centralization of CSDF spending, with a significant portion of funds directed toward government infrastructure in county capitals. The report argues that this trend has diminished the impact on rural communities, particularly in Grand Bassa, Nimba, and Bong.
Weak contract management was also highlighted as a major obstacle. In Bomi County, unauthorized changes to the Jawajeh Town Hall project reportedly increased costs and left the structure incomplete for several years. In Bong County, researchers observed children working at a school construction site in Gbarnga, a direct violation of the Children’s Law of 2011 that points to a severe lack of contractor oversight.
Furthermore, the report found that CSDF resources were often spread too thinly across multiple sectors, diluting their overall impact. In Nimba County, for example, a completed youth center in Bunadin lacked basic amenities, rendering it largely ineffective. Accessibility for persons with disabilities remained another critical concern, as most facilities lacked inclusive design features despite prior assurances from project engineers.
Additionally, the report noted that County Councils across the six counties suffer from limited capacity, facing challenges such as inadequate staffing, a lack of stipends, and insufficient logistical support. Based on these findings, CENTAL recommended that counties prioritize fewer, high-impact projects and strengthen institutional support for County Councils. The organization also called for the timely release of CSDF allocations and the establishment of structured monitoring mechanisms involving communities, women, and youth.
Miamen concluded by stressing that improving transparency and public access to information regarding CSDF disbursements is critical to restoring trust and strengthening accountability. He called for sustained collaboration among the Ministry of Internal Affairs, county administrations, and civil society organizations to ensure that CSDF resources deliver inclusive and lasting development across Liberia.