Seven years after the official ending of Liberia’s civil war, many formerly displaced people have returned home. Concern continued to provide emergency water and sanitation for the large proportion of people who remained without access to basic facilities. Liberia has made great strides toward improving its economy, but high youth unemployment, an increase in crime, and a dependence on imported food remain serious obstacles to progress.
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Rural Liberian mother and her children who are benefitting from Concern's Livelihood program |
Concern’s work in Liberia
Concern has been working in Liberia since 1992, and is continuing the transition from emergency relief to long-term development programs.
- EDUCATION—Increasing access to primary education, targeting 4,500 people in poor communities
- HEALTH—Improving environmental health for more than 175,000 people
- LIVELIHOODS—Helping 200,000 people earn a better living by providing agricultural and vocational training and improving access to markets
- HIV and AIDS—Reducing the spread and impact of HIV and AIDS among 70,000 extremely poor people
Liberia at a Glance
Area: 111,000 sq km
Population: 3.6 m
GDP per capita: US $362
Infant mortality (per thousand births): 138
Life expectancy: 57.9
Living with HIV and AIDS: 35,000
Literacy rate: 55.5%
Access to safe water: 64%
Human development rank: 169 (out of 182)
Global hunger rank/index*: 66 / 24.6