By: P. Lincoln Nyanrue, Jr., elincoln1986@gmail.com
Civil society organizations in Liberia are reviewing policies concerning the county social development agenda in order for inclusive participation.
Policies under revision are the section 9 (h) of the budget law Fiscal Year 2016/17, which states that members of the Project Management Committee (PMC) shall be removed for cause to be determined by two-third members of the legislative caucus of a county.
They are saying it contravenes section 9 (e) bullet point f (3) which talked about mandate of the county council as a highest decision making body of the county development and fund-management, and f (3) provides that three members are elected on PMC once every three years, comprising a chairman, a treasurer and a comptroller.
Additionally, the council shall define criteria for qualification to contest the positions of PMC Treasurer and PMC Comptroller.
The pieces of information were disclosed recently by officials of the Institute for Research and Diacritic Development IREDD.
IREDD is one of the civil society groups that formed the Natural Resource Management Coalition that wants citizens equal participation in key development meetings in Liberia.
According to them, some stakeholders especially CSOs, which consist of Women, youth groups and people living with disabilities, have been excluded during county council sitting where money received from concessions agreements and government annual allocation for county development is discussed.
The project manager of IREDD on Natural Resource Management/Liberia Accountability and Voice Initiative project in Liberia recently acknowledged members of Grand Gedeh County Civil Society members on what their project hopes to achieve.
Prince D. Gaye told Groove 106FM that the gathering was basically to inform CSO how to monitor and report on projects initiated by the county social development funds and the best management to the citizens’ benefit.
Mr. Gaye said their aim is to influence the 53rd National Legislature so that they can reform the policy governing the county social development funds.
He named members of the natural resource coalition as Policy for Platform and Dialogue, Development Education Network of Liberia, Liberia Media Center, Institute for Research and Democratic Development among others.
