Overview Liberia Country Program Evaluation Highlights This report evaluates the outcomes of World Bank Group support to Liberia from its postwar reengagement in 2003 through 2011. The country has moved in just a few years from a state of total disarray to one with a solid foundation for inclusive development. Although development has not moved forward as quickly as hoped, substantial progress has been made. Public finance and key institutions have been rebuilt; crucial transport facilities have been restored; and hospitals, schools, and universities are operating. The debilitating burden of massive external debt has been eliminated. Although the government deserves most of the credit, this success would not have been possible without external development and security partners, including the World Bank Group. Following re-engagement in 2003, the World Bank Group strategy in Liberia initially focused on two areas: (i) restoring the functionality of the state; and (ii) rebuilding infrastructure. Both were seen as reflecting Liberia’s comparative advantage. Infrastructure, in particular, was considered by partners and the government as an area where the World Bank Group could play a special role. The Bank made a decision to put less emphasis, in this initial phase, on social sectors and the growth agenda where substantial assistance was available from other partners— although in later years the Bank’s emphasis on these areas increased. It was deemed necessary first to put in place the basic institutional
and physical infrastructure needed for service delivery and private sector development. In addition, the World Bank Group designated three priorities as cross-cutting themes: capacity-building, gender equality, and environmental sustainability, with the aim of reflecting these in all interventions. Regarding the outcomes, the rebuilding of public institutions has seen substantial progress, with important achievements in restoring public finances and reforming the civil service. With respect to the rehabilitation of infrastructure, the World Bank Group has helped improve the conditions of roads, ports, power supply, and water and sanitation. As for facilitating growth, however, World Bank Group financial support has been relatively modest, but it has helped with policy advice and in filling gaps left by other partners. With regard to the three cross-cutting themes, some effective programs were carried out, including capacity development at several core public finance-related agencies. However, the integration of these themes across World Bank Group interventions, which was the underlying intent, still needs a vision and better articulated strategy. Finally, the Bank (together with the International Monetary Fund) led efforts to reduce Liberia’s inherited external debt burden under the enhanced Highly-Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) Initiative and the Multi-lateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI)
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