5) Description of initiative: The Locally Initiated Networks for Community Strengthening (LINCS) Program supports the building and strengthening of peace constituencies at the community and district level in Voinjama, Zorzor, and Salayea districts of Lofa County, Liberia. Lofa County was utterly decimated during Liberia’s civil war and was a primary recruiting ground for several of the rebel movements driving the conflict. The County was almost entirely depopulated during several periods of the war and widespread distrust (especially inter-ethnic distrust and distrust of ex-combatants) existed at the time of CHF’s program start-up.

The LINCS Program focuses on strengthening constituencies for peace and stability in Lofa County, targeting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), ex-combatants, and other members of specific communities — predominantly rural villages with populations generally below 3,000 — many of which were almost entirely abandoned during Liberia’s recent civil war.

6) Description of innovation: The innovation found in LINCS lies in CHF’s fusion of community-based, internally-guided conflict mitigation design with rapid, effective start-up management processes, as well as a strong emphasis on long-term sustainable progress many years after the original program has ended. This triangular innovation combines the best of existing development practices into a cohesive, practical philosophy, one that falls closely in tune with CHF’s goal to become a cutting-edge “relief to development” organization. Utilizing our previous experience managing conflict in West Africa, as well as CHF’s Stable Societies Study, LINCS was designed to work through existing, indigenous conflict mediation mechanisms, to harness their strengths and then link and cross-pollinate them through multi-ethnic organizations, thus serving as an ideal microcosm for Liberia’s national peace process. In particular, the program recognizes women – and especially locally organized women – as effective agents for peacebuilding.

The program was initiated utilizing CHF’s Rapid Start-Up model, which commits the organization to achieving tangible results in the first weeks of the program, results that experience has shown to reduce tension and build hope and optimism within the community, thereby building momentum away from conflict. Within 30 days, CHF performed a baseline survey and held meetings with 20 potential communities. In order to ensure sustainability, sustainability plans were developed for individual projects, and community interventions were chosen which focused on long-term capacity building, thereby allowing communities to continue to address their own needs after the program ends.

7) Delivery model: The LINCS program delivery model, as with all elements of the program, is rooted in the notion of community-driven development. The program targets Voinjama, Zorzor, and Salayea districts, encouraging the formation of 70 Community Peace Councils and providing assistance to all of these organizations under the condition that they demonstrate broad representation of the community, a concern for the rights of minorities in their community, and a commitment to an ordered process of justice. By working with and assisting leaders in building local-level county organizations that represent the concerns of targeted communities, LINCS actively engages local organizations as major tools of change. The program works with successful existing Liberian organizations, linking them to fledgling organizations in order to allow for long-term, sustainable civil society growth in Lofa county and beyond.

8) Key operational partnerships: Key to CHF’s development philosophy is utilizing the specific strengths of existing local organizations. CHF has worked with a great number of diverse partner organizations, international and local, of varying sizes. Under LINCS, CHF partners with a number of indigenous Liberian organizations, including the National Ex-Combatant Peacebuilding Initiative, Mano River Women Union, Flomo Theater, Foundation for Human Rights and Democracy, and the Inter-Religious Council of Liberia. By linking these organizations, all powerful voices within their respective communities, to newer, formative organizations, LINCS fosters stronger roots for Liberia’s incipient civil society, providing a sustainable network to carry on the momentum that LINCS originally provided.

CHF also closely coordinates with the Liberian government and United Nations organizations operating in Liberia, as well as private sector leaders, community groups and leaders, and other donors. The program is also closely coordinated with other NGOs working in Lofa County..

Beyond existing organizational partnerships, the LINCS program works on establishing a mechanism for community councils to host public safety and security forums where United National police and other organizations familiarize the community with new policies, procedures, methods, and personnel, and where the community articulates its present concerns, needs, and community-based program ideas.

9) Financial model: The LINCS program was designed with beneficiary access seen as intrinsic to reaching its goal of building peace constituencies in rural Liberia. CHF targeted Voinjama, Zorzor, and Salayea areas, but assisted only those councils whose make-up and approach were seen as suitably representative and protective of ethnicity, gender, religious and minority groups. All of the services provided by CHF are provided free of charge. CHF also developed a consultative process between community councils and regional and national level actors, in order to allow for early and effective feedback from beneficiaries.

          • Costs as percentage of income: C

          • Financing: The services provided through the LINCS program were funded through a series of cooperative agreements with the US Agency for International Development.

10) Effectiveness

          • Project outcomes: Over the period from May 2004 to June 30, 2006, the LINCS program has: Formed 70 Community Peace Councils in 3 districts of Lofa County; Implemented 70 Livelihoods projects in CHF partner communities focusing on agriculture, livestock, and marketplace and building rehabilitation; Built capacity of CPCs and Project Management Committees in technical and management expertise; Procured livestock for livelihoods projects with the assistance of the Ministry of Agriculture; Awarded and distributed 140 small entrepreneurship grant opportunities; Provided Capacity building training for CHF livelihoods staff in livestock management; Increased participation in mediation efforts as advisors; Constructed 69 multi-use community centers; Commissioned an impact assessment of the program.

          • Number of clients in past year: More than 600 Lofa residents participating as members of Community Peace Councils 820 individuals participated at peace forums, including 316 women and 300 youth; 161 participants attended sporting events; 371 beneficiaries participated in mediation trainings; and 812 beneficiaries participated in livelihood workshops. Number of indrect beneficiaries estimate: 140,000-250,000 - gathering accurate data is difficult given the nature of peacebuilding and fluidity of returning populations to Lofa County. Average community size: 2,000. Number of communities involved in LINCS: 70

11) Scaling up strategy

          • Stage of the initiative: Mature stage.

          • Expansion plan: Funding for the LINCS program ended in December, 2006. The LINCS program is one of the first for CHF to apply its strong management capacity and community-driven development model to local conflict mediation and peacebuilding. Through future studies and programs, CHF plans on continuing to refine and provide similar programs in other conflict-affected regions of Liberia and beyond. In recent months, CHF performed a thorough conflict analysis of the Somali region of Ethiopia. Through its Conflict Community of Practice and the Office of Strategic Initiatives and Analysis, both housed within its headquarters in Silver Spring, MD, CHF will continue to expand its successful triangular model of community-led development, rapid start-up, and long-term sustainability into a proven programmatic system for effective peacebuilding in conflict regions.

12) Origin of the initiative: CHF first established operations in Liberia in late 2003, soon after the signing of the Accra Peace Accords that ended Liberia’s 14-year, on-again, off-again civil war. We quickly identified Lofa County as an area of particular need of the type of conflict management programming CHF offers, and began exploring the area early in 2004 through visits and a series of pilot projects. We identified the three target districts as areas where CHF intervention could be most effective and productive. With funding from the US Agency for International Development, the LINCS program began in May 2004.

Contact Information:
Jon  Temin
Senior Program Development Officer
CHF International
(NGO)
8601 Georgia Avenue
United States
Tel: 301 587-4700
Fax: 301 587-7315
Email: jtemin@chfhq.org
Website: www.chfhq.org