Liberia

Search for Common Ground in Liberia (SFCG) was established in 1997 to support the elections process. Since that time, SFCG and its media production studio Talking Drum Studio have grown into a household name. As the country has experienced another period of conflict, and then finally transitioned from violence into peace, SFCG has supported the process with public information, dialogue, community outreach and capacity building.

SFCG’s principal tools - Media and Community Outreach - work hand-in-hand in Liberia.  Informed by issue mapping, surveying, and other research techniques, SFCG scans for potential conflict issues and flashpoints and intentionally engages around these themes to foster dialogue and a constructive search for solutions while reducing tensions and rhetoric.  Issues introduced through the media are addressed in depth through community-level engagement, and community-driven activities are given national attention through media coverage.  This integrated, synergistic approach enables SFCG to achieve a breadth and depth of impact that would not be possible working at one level—national or local—alone.

Talking Drum Studio
SFCG’s Talking Drum Studio (TDS), a multi-media project with studios in Monrovia and up country in the town of Gbarnga, has built a national audience with its nine regular weekly programmes that address governance, reconciliation, and conflict issues.  A recent listener survey found that 83% of respondents with broadcast coverage had listened to TDS programmes.  In addition to building a strong reputation with listeners, TDS has also developed good relationships with decision-makers and civil society representatives, who make regular contributions to the programmes. [more]

Focus on Education - Let’s Learn Together!
SFCG audience surveys and other research have found that education is the number one priority for many of its listeners. To address this need, SFCG is partnering with Creative Associates on a distance education project, with SFCG responsible for the radio for teacher training component. Producing the radio program Let’s Learn Together, is a way to ensure that Liberian youth receive a quality education that serves as a source of peace and stability. [more]

Supporting Regional Rural Networks
By strengthening radio networks and providing training to enhance production capabilities, SFCG seeks to expand the amount of public information available on important governance process and engage radio personnel and civil society in these areas on these processes.  SFCG supports its radio partners and the Liberian media sector more generally through research, technical support and practical experiences. [more]

Supporting the Establishment of New Community Radio Stations
SFCG has worked in selected counties that lack radio coverage to lay the groundwork for and support new community radio stations, including most recently in the remote Grand Cape Mount province. SFCG has developed a model for community radio development that fosters local ownership and sustainability.  Through sustained engagement and support by SFCG and partners, the community identifies and provides its own contribution to the project, including the land for the building, blocks and labor for its construction and the necessary fees to secure a community radio-broadcasting license.  The community also identifies appropriate leaders to serve on the Board of Directors, who receive training in management and decision-making from SFCG and have the opportunity to visit other, similar stations to see what works and what can be applied in their community. [more]

Research is a crucial component of SFCG’s media support strategy in Liberia.  This research has been geared toward improving understanding about the types of information Liberians have access too and ultimately fostering links between policy makers and civil society including radio broadcasters to improve access to information and channels for dissemination. 

Civil Society Survey
With financial assistance from the U.K’s Department for International Development (DFID), SFCG commissioned a study of civil society in Liberia to assess their institutional capacity and effectiveness. The study establishes a knowledge base on Liberian civil society organizations and the current dynamics that are affecting their impact and effectiveness with the goal of improving future partnerships, not only for SFCG’s interventions but also all organizations and professionals working with Liberian civil society organizations. Click here to see key findings from the Civil Society Survey.

Media Sector Mapping
Over a five month period in 2007, with support from the British Department for International Development (DFID) and the Government of Finland, SFCG carried out a mapping of the media sector in Liberia examining specific information channels related to two dominant policy frameworks: the interim Poverty Reduction Strategy (iPRS) and the Youth Policy. The research was national in scope and encompassed all media channels: radio, print and television. A number of methods were employed to understand how individuals and communities are receiving public information and what they know about iPRS and the Youth Policy. Click here to see the full key findings of the Liberia Media Mapping Survey.

Conflict Assessment
Prior to the October 2005 elections there was significant concern about the overall country response to the election outcome and the possibility of conflict arising again. In an effort to assess key issues and the risk of related conflict, as well as concerns about violence related to the elections, SFCG, with the support of UNDP, conducted a Risk and Conflict Assessment across Liberia. Assessment tools included focus groups and surveys, with questions focused on the perceptions of the upcoming elections, respondents’ access to information, the current effectiveness of the law, and possible triggers of further conflict. The assessment targeted a diverse geographical sampling specifically drawn from conflict-prone areas around the country. Participants represented various age groups and social, ethnic, and economic backgrounds and included teachers, market vendors, IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons), students, and ex-combatants. Click here to see the key findings from the Liberia conflict assessment.

Fostering Participatory Community Development - Townhall Meetings
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. [more]

Strengthening CSOs
SFCG has developed a strong reputation as an international organization that acts like a local player.  With its unique ability to bring together disparate parties in pursuit of collective solutions, SFCG is well situated to bridge the gap between divided groups in the civil society sector.  This credibility has enabled SFCG to engage with local NGOs in a way not always available to international groups, uniquely positioning it to help develop Liberia’s civil society.  [more]

Transitional Justice Survey
A household survey, carried out in June 2007 in partnership with the BBC World Service Trust, explored the levels of knowledge and attitudes surrounding transitional justice issues in the wake of the civil conflict that ended in 2003. The survey was based on a random sample of 1,600 adults (18-59 year olds) in eight counties in Liberia. Link to BBC press release.

Charles Taylor Trial
SFCG has developed a project to facilitate local dialogue around the trial of former President of Liberia, Charles Taylor, addressing the heated opinions and questions that typically come from such an important event.  This is primarily being done through the production and broadcast of Tailor Trial – a thirty-minute magazine produced with support from BBC World Service Trust. With one correspondent reporting from The Hague and one in Monrovia, this program keeps the Liberian populace up-to-date on the trial of the former president and gathers local opinion and feedback about the trial.

Refugee Resettlement In Liberia
The long-running civil war in Liberia resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians as they fled the violence and fighting. To provide critical information to these refugees, SFCG used both radio programs produced by TDS and supporting drama performances targeted specifically at refugees. In light of the regional nature of the Mano River Union refugee situation covering Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone, SFCG adopted a regional strategy for its work, airing programs across borders to reach those in need. In a survey of SFCG’s refugee activities, conducted in August 2007, it was concluded that the work performed by SFCG was highly effective in ensuring that refugees were aware of their options regarding repatriation and had enough information about development in Liberia and their communities to support their decision to return home. [more]

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