Some Liberian citizens including women, people living with disabilities and others across various districts in the country have intensified their calls for the passage of the County Social Development Fund (CSDF) Bill currently before the Legislature.
Two women groups from District#6 and #12, in Montserrado County Friday, May 24, 2019 presented a joint-petition statement to Representative, Samuel Enders, with several counts in support of the passage of the CSDF Bill to create the democratic space for them in decision making.
The Chairlady, Louise Karwah of ELWA Rock Hill Women and the Chairlady of Special Women of Barnesville, Cecelia Boe, said: “The bill if passed into law will give ordinary Liberians voice the opportunity to improve their lives through transparency, accountability and provide employment”.
Receiving the petition, Montserrado County District #6-Representative, Enders, said: “The petition represents the citizens’ trust and confidence in their lawmakers to pass laws to benefit them”.
The Program Manager of Platform for Dialogue and Peace (P4DP), Kennedy Berrian, wants the law makers pass the bill in the interest of the people.
Mr. Berrian said:”This marks the petitioning of law makers across the country to pass the bill and address existence challenges that confronts the usage of the CSDF in the districts”.
The advocacy is sponsored by USAID, Liberia Accountability Voice Initiative (LAVI) and implemented by P4DP, a research and peace building NGO in Liberia.
In 2016 the House and the civil society validated and amended Section-9 of the Budget Law, to draft the CSDF Bill, pending passage.
The CSDF Bill is a combination of government’s development fund to the counties and also the Social Responsibility Fund from companies’ contributions to counties.
Complaints have come from citizens concerning the usage of the funds by their Representatives and local leaders.
It caused several civil society organizations in the natural resources sector researched advocated and along with the House of Representatives validated findings and in 2017, to amend Section Nine of the Budget Law before drafting the CSDF Bill, known as a Stand Alone Bill.
The proposed bill is being sponsored by USAID Liberia Accountability Voice Initiative (LAVI) and implemented by a research and peacebuilding NGO, P4DP, to bring about transparency and accountability in the lest-empowered districts. Report by Jos Garneo Cephas, Sr., A Sustainable Development monitor Journalist