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Save the Children in Liberia

Since 1991, Save the Children International (SCI) has been operating in Liberia to fulfill breakthroughs and ensure that all children survive, learn, and are protected. SCI came at the time Liberia was embroiled in decades of civil war and subsequently, the Ebola crisis and COVID-19. Liberia is ranked 178 out of 191 countries in the 2021/2022 Humanitarian Development Index, and approximately 84% of the population lives below the international poverty line (1.25 U.S. dollars/day), especially in rural areas (UNDP). In the wake of these challenges confronting Liberia, SCI continues to make interventions aimed at ensuring that children are impacted positively by what we do. 

In 2022, we reached over 230,000 direct and indirect beneficiaries, predominantly through interventions in the education and child protection sectors. Currently, Save the Children has six field offices throughout the country (Bong, Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Margibi, Grand Bassa, River Cess, Nimba and Lofa counties) in addition to its main office in Monrovia, Montserrado County. 

In Liberia, we are the leading child rights international NGO working with other local and international partners, as well as the Liberian Government, to improve the welfare of children and make Liberia a safe place for them. Currently, we use five thematic programs to achieve our goals. The thematic areas of concentration include Health, Nutrition, Education, Child Protection and Food Security. We also respond to emergencies where necessary.

So far, SCI has five (5) projects being implemented in nine (9) of Liberia’s fifteen (15) counties. The projects are Liberia Empowerment Through Attendance, Reading, and Nutrition II (LEARN II), Incentivize Learning Activity (ILA), Play On, School Related Gender-Based Violence (SRGBV) and Kumwe Hub Impact Linked Loans. 

LEARN II, which is a five-year project (2021-2026), is supported by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The LEARN II Project aims to improve the literacy of school-aged children; increase the use of health, nutrition, and dietary practices; and improve the effectiveness of food assistance through local and regional procurement. This project supports 234 schools across the four counties In Liberia and will reach over 85,000 students over five years. 

The Incentivize Learning Activity (ILA) also is a five-year project (2023-2028) supported by United States Agency for International Development (USAID). ILA is geared toward increasing enrolment and attendance for vulnerable and underserved school-age children while contributing to improved learning outcomes and addressing food insecurity. The Activity will engage school communities, small scale farmers, and the private sector to popularize home grown food, school gardens, and appropriate safe WASH services on a needed basis through collaboration with other donors, private sector organizations and commitment from the Government of Liberia.

Play On project is supported by Spin Master, a Canadian private donor. It provides funding and in-kind toys to support child protection initiatives. It includes the adaptation and implementation of the Play On facilitator's guide to enhance children's psycho-social wellbeing through toy-based play in child friendly spaces in schools. The program targets fifty-six schools in Grand Gedeh County and additional thirty-nine schools in River Gee County located in the southeastern region of Liberia. The targeted schools are supporting over 27,000 children across ninety-five pre-primary and primary schools under the project.

The School Related Gender-Based Violence (SRGBV) project is intended to build the capacity of Save the Children staff and targeted stakeholders to reduce the incidence of SRGBV in targeted schools. Using the Safe Schools Common Approach, we are working with the Government of Liberia (GOL) at the national and county levels, school administrators, Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs), and community members to improve school safety. The project is implemented in thirty schools across rural Montserrado and Bong counties. The project will directly reach five hundred beneficiaries from Save the Children staff, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), GOL staff, teachers, and school management committee members and estimated indirect beneficiaries of 9,000 students (boys and girls).

Kumwe Hub Impact Linked Loans is a pilot project that builds on the success of the Save the Children Rwanda Kumwe Hub launched in 2021. This pilot initiative will support ten prevalently women-led social enterprises providing a service or product that improves children wellbeing. We will provide them loans to support and expand their operations and maximize their social impact. 

The situation for children in Liberia

More than half of population are children. Despite the progress that has been made, high levels of inequality exist which prevents millions of children from surviving and reaching their full potential. One in four children under the age of five are stunted, with highest rates of stunting in rural and remote areas. Neonatal mortality rates remain high, resulting in children dying within their first month of life. Children, especially those living in rural and remote areas, struggle to access quality education, and many do not receive any early education, which is critical for their development. 

What we do

Our strategic objectives align with what we need to do to achieve for children in Liberia. The objectives include Education, Health & Nutrition, Child Protection, Food Security and Livelihoods and in some cases humanitarian response.

Education: Children have equitable access to continuous, high-quality education that fosters learning and development. Our education programs contribute to improving school enrollment, attendance, literacy and numeracy, learning outcomes, through our school feeding programs. Additionally, we support teachers’ professional development and collaborate with the Government of Liberia in the development of national policies on education, ensuring better access to quality education for children in Liberia.

 We also help young children access early education, which allows them to develop skills through play.

Health & Nutrition (including WASH): Children have equitable and improved access to quality basic health, nutrition and WASH services. Our Health and Nutrition Programs contribute to improve access to basic health care and nutrition, including clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services. In addition, we contribute to create spaces for children in schools to discuss about health issues. This contributes to ensure they receive the care and nourishment needed for their growth and well-being.

Food Security & Livelihoods (including Climate Change): Children live in households and communities with resilient livelihoods and improved food security. Our Food Security and Livelihood Programs strengthen communities and families' resilience by promoting sustainable livelihoods through school gardens, Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), supporting local procurement and collaborating with local enterprises in our school feeding programs. These efforts improve food access and household income, enhancing children’s well-being.

 

Child Protection: Our Child Protection Programs create safe environments for children in school, families and communities by preventing abuse and exploitation, promoting children's rights, and supporting vulnerable children through protective measures. 

We strengthen formal and informal child protection mechanisms to keep children safe. We also work with parents and caregivers to help them care for their children without violence and ensure that vulnerable children received the support and protection services they need. 

Humanitarian response: We ensure communities are prepared for disasters as well as support emergency relief efforts through the provision of supplies and on-the-ground support.

News & Stories

3 Jan 2025

Flood Victims Laud Save the Children

In October 2024, when the heavy down pour of rain caused the river to overflow in Glayan Town, Rivercess County and parts of Bong County, several residents including women, children and the elderly were affected thus leaving properties destroyed and others homeless. Many of those affected by the flood, were devastated and had no hope that anyone or organization would have come to their rescue.

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2 Dec 2024

Enhancing The Reading Gaps of Children: A Success Story

Courage G. Wright, 14, from the Zai Elementary School in Grand Gedeh, a southeastern county of Liberia, had no plan of going to school lease to say, she was ready to attend a Catch-Up-Club (CUC).

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28 Nov 2024

Save The Children Joins 16 Days of Activism

Save the Children has joined the Government of Liberia and other partners to launch the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.  

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