By Amos Harris
Citizens across Liberia are taking a more active role in holding their leaders accountable, thanks to the Naymote Partners for Democratic Development’s Social Accountability Monitors initiative. Supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by the UN Peacebuilding Fund, this program is strengthening grassroots oversight of public resources and service delivery.
Through this initiative, County Accountability and Advocacy Teams (CAATs) in all 15 counties are empowered to track government development projects, monitor public services, and ensure transparent management of public funds. These citizen monitors are using digital tools and community engagement to bridge the gap between people and their local governments, fostering a culture of transparency where officials are held answerable to the communities they serve.
Between June and July 2025, CAAT members documented progress on 240 development projects nationwide. The majority, 75%, are ongoing, while the rest are delayed due to funding or logistical challenges. County officials have responded positively, with one administrator in Bong County calling the monitors “the voices of the people, ensuring that no project goes unnoticed and no funds are mismanaged.”
Naymote’s Executive Director, Eddie D. Jarwolo, praised the monitors as “the eyes and ears of the community,” noting that the CAAT initiative is changing the narrative in Liberia. “Citizens are no longer passive observers; they are demanding results,” he said.
A prime example of this impact is in Gbarma Town, Gbarpolu County, where persistent advocacy by the local CAAT team led to the resumption of construction on the Gbarma Health Center, which had been abandoned since 2017. The breakthrough came after a public hearing where the Gbarpolu County Council deliberated on its development budget.
In Lofa County, the CAAT team is making significant strides. During a visit to the Presidential Palace construction site in Foya District, they confirmed that the $10 million project is underway, although they were unable to obtain key documents, such as the Bill of Quantities (BOQ). The Lofa CAAT team has also successfully increased access to critical public documents, including the county’s 2024 resolutions and financial reports, marking a major step toward grassroots transparency. The team’s work has even extended to monitoring the delivery of medical supplies at Tellewoyan Memorial Hospital, with hospital leadership inviting them to oversee the process to ensure full accountability.
Despite the impressive progress, challenges remain. Jarwolo highlighted that the current national budget allocation of $186,666 per county is insufficient to meet the growing needs of local communities. While the national budget earmarks $2.79 million for county development across the 15 counties, additional funds from the County Social Development Fund disproportionately favor larger counties like Nimba and Grand Bassa, slowing progress and deepening inequalities.
To address these disparities, Jarwolo recommends that the national government allocate $1 million per electoral district, for a total of $73 million across all 73 districts. He proposed that these funds be managed by professional District Development Councils under the oversight of the legislature and active citizen monitoring. This model, he believes, would fast-track development projects, enhance transparency, and ensure resources are used effectively where they are most needed.
The ongoing project, titled “Empowering Citizens and Communities to Foster Social Accountability and Transparency in Governance and Public Service Delivery,” is a critical milestone in Liberia’s democratic journey. As the initiative gains momentum, social accountability monitors are becoming an indispensable force in the pursuit of good governance, ensuring that development is not just promised but delivered.
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