Press Statement for Immediate Release

CENTAL Launches Research Report on County Social Development Fund (CSDF) Projects in Six Counties

--Study Reveals Both Progress and Weaknesses in CSDF Implementation

Monrovia, Wednesday, December 17, 2025 - Distinguished ladies and gentlemen of the press, welcome to our office. Thank you for being a great partner in our collective quest to promote good governance and the culture of integrity in Liberia. 

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, for years, counties have had access to County Social Development Funds (CSDF). The CSDF comprises payments by concession companies for the benefit of counties in which they operate (i.e. social development funds) and budgetary allocations by national government intended to spur local development (i.e. county development funds). This financing module has been a consequential pillar upon which people living in communities deprived of schools, medical facilitates and other infrastructures reap the benefits of their natural endowment or resources.

As you may be aware, with funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), through the Embassy of Sweden in Liberia, CENTAL is implementing the National Integrity Building and Anti-Corruption Program in Monteserrado, Grand Bassa, Rivercess, Bomi, Gbarpolu, Bong, and Nimba Counties. A key activity of the program is the Open Expenditure Initiative (OEI), through which we conduct budget forums; monitor infrastructure and other projects; assess the inclusiveness and transparency of decision-making around project selection, award, and implementation; and the overall impacts of the funds on citizens, including women, youths, and persons with special needs. Also, we track associated challenges, disbursement patterns of projects funds, citizens’ access to expenditure and other essential information and advocate for improved and inclusive management of the funds.

Over the years, these engagements have identified successes, but at the same time uncovered several inadequacies with the appropriation, disbursement and implementation of the CSDF projects.

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, CENTAL is pleased to release key findings of its 2025 Research Report on the CSDF titled: “Open Expenditure: Examining CSDF Projects In Six Counties.” projects funded through the County Social Development Funds. The research was conducted in June 2025, through field visits in six counties - Nimba, Bong, Grand Bassa, Bomi, Rivercess, and Gbarpolu Counties where the team assessed overall effectiveness of the CSDF. The research team visited over thirty (30) project sites, including schools, hospitals, markets, bridges, and administrative buildings; conducted interviews with county authorities; and consulted community representatives.

Amongst others, the research revealed both visible progress and persistent challenges in the management of CSDF projects. In alignment with relevant priorities of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, Citizens acknowledged the construction of new schools, renovation of town halls, and improvement in health facilities. However, they raised concerns about incomplete works, slow implementation, and limited inclusion of vulnerable groups and voices. Findings show that Communities were largely excluded from decision-making, having limited access to information on disbursements, which affects their ability to track project implementation and demand accountability, where necessary.  The report also found that CSDF funding were applied toward administrative buildings, government facilities, and other administrative operations rather than community-centered development.

 Highlight of key findings:

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, CENTAL is pleased to present a snippet of key findings including inadequacies contained in the research;

• Centralization of Local Development- Despite its goal of promoting local development, CSDF implementation remains highly centralized, with much of the funding spent on government infrastructure in county capitals. This limits benefits to rural communities, a trend particularly evident in Grand Bassa, Nimba, and Bong Counties, where communities receive little direct impact from CSDF projects.

• Contract Management and Scope Control- The Jawajeh Town Hall project in Bomi County highlights weak contract management, where unauthorized contract changes increased costs and left the project incomplete for years.

• Contractor Oversight and Child Protection Compliance – In Gbarnga, Bong County, children were observed working at a school construction site, violating the Children’s Law of 2011 and exposing weak contractor oversight, until county authorities intervened. In contrast, the completed Fenlah Town Hall in Bong County shows how effective oversight fosters community pride and ownership.

• Value for Money and Prioritization- Across the six counties, CSDF funds were spread across many sectors, weakening impact and leaving projects under-resourced. In Nimba County, a completed youth center in Bunadin lacked basic amenities, illustrating how infrastructure without operational support limits actual and long-term benefits.

• Inclusion of Persons with Disability- Most CSDF-funded facilities lacked accessibility features, limiting benefits for persons with disabilities despite engineers’ assurances. In Nimba County, disability advocates welcomed limited support but stressed that true inclusion remains absent from project design and implementation.

• County Councils and County Administrations Capacity and Relations- Relations between County Councils and administrations were generally cordial in most counties, though tensions emerged in Rivercess due to resource constraints. Across all six counties, councils face serious capacity gaps, including unfilled support offices, lack of stipends, and limited logistics, weakening their ability to effectively oversee CSDF projects.

• Procurement Controls- Procurement and payment practices under the CSDF varied considerably across the counties, reflecting uneven systems of oversight and accountability. Some counties reported stricter approval processes and phased payment arrangements designed to prevent project abandonment and improve value for money. Others, however, faced severe funding constraints and uncertainty, relying on anticipated concession revenues that had not yet been transparently disclosed.

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, based on the findings gathered, the research recommends the following:  

• Rather than spreading resources thin, counties should prioritize fewer, high-impact projects that can be fully completed and functional, linking construction with necessary operational support. Accessibility features must be mandatory in all CSDF projects and integrated from the design stage, with inputs from disability organizations to ensure inclusion.

• County Councils need stronger institutional support, including staff, stipends, and logistics, to fulfill their mandate under the Local Government Act of 2018. Partnering with professional bodies and capacity development institutions can build technical capacity and improve CSDF planning, monitoring, and accountability.

• Ministry of Finance and Development Planning should prioritize timely release of CSDF allocations and concession contributions. Counties should continue using payment control mechanisms, such as partial disbursement linked to work completion, but these must be balanced with predictable schedules to maintain momentum and prevent unnecessary delays.
• Structured county-level monitoring mechanisms should be institutionalized, with active involvement of County Councils, civil society, and community representatives, including women and youth. This will ensure oversight is regular, participatory, and independent of external actors.

• Finally, stronger cooperation is needed between the Ministry of Internal Affairs, County Administrations, County Councils, and civil society actors such as CENTAL. Regular dialogues and joint planning will help align priorities, address bottlenecks, and sustain accountability.

The full report can be accessed on our website: www.cental.org.lr and our social media pages using our full name: Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia

Thanks.

Signed:

The Management.