Fostering Participatory Community Development - Townhall Meeting

Search for Common Ground in Liberia (SFCG) believes in bringing together different parties to an issue to collectively discuss challenges and together decide how to move forward.  Such venues for collective decision-making can bring together local government, the community, traditional leaders, and even large companies active in the area.

A recent example has been SFCG’s recent engagement with ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steel company, which is preparing to commence iron ore mining operations in Liberia’s Bong, Nimba and Grand Bassa counties and as part of its contract with the government is giving $3 million in development funds to the three counties.  To facilitate responsible and collective decision-making regarding the use the funds, SFCG held a town hall meeting between local government officials and citizens in each of the three counties between September and November 2007.  The meetings allowed the local representatives to propose and discuss possible initiatives and citizens to ask questions and voice their concerns and resulted in the formation of technical committees that will lead the planning and implementation of the chosen development activities. The meetings illustrate SFCG goal of facilitate healthy dialogue and collective and transparent decision-making and increased citizen engagement on vital development issues.

SFCG has organized forums such as this one in Bong County that allow lawmakers and the public to discuss key development issues face to face