Poverty in Liberia: The Current Context

Years of conflict and mismanagement have left Liberia one of the poorest countries in the world, with GDP per capita estimated at US$190. Poverty is pervasive, and is particularly acute in rural areas and the most remote corners of the country. Poverty has many dimensions, including low levels of income and consumption, poor nutrition and food security, low health and education indicators, and inadequate infrastructure. It is reinforced by inequities, especially in access to justice and economic opportunities.

Methods of Measuring Poverty and Sources of Data

When Liberia developed its interim PRS (iPRS) in late 2006, there was little reliable information on poverty across the country. In preparation for the full PRS in 2007, three new sources of data became available. First, the Liberian Institute of Statistics and Geo Information Services (LISGIS) carried out a Core Welfare Indicator Questionnaire (CWIQ) survey in collaboration with various partners.3 The CWIQ surveyed 3,600 households, covering every region, demographic group, income level, and household type. It gathered detailed information on both objective measures and perceptions of poverty. It focused primarily on consumption, and collected complementary data on household composition by size and age, education levels, occupation, and access to basic services.

Second, the 2007 Liberia Demographic and Health Survey (LDHS) collected data from a nationally representative sample of over 7,000 households between December 2006 and April 2007.4 The LDHS focused on population and health, and included information on fertility levels and preferences, family planning practices, sexual activity, nutrition levels, maternal and child health, domestic violence, and awareness and prevalence of HIV and AIDS.

Third, a Participatory Poverty Assessment (PPA) survey was conducted,5 which elicited perceptions of poverty based on direct information provided by the Liberian people themselves. The PPA complements other surveys by providing a basis to qualitatively define poverty across all 15 counties.

1. LIBERIA JOBS & OPPORTUNITIES INITIATIVES (LJOI): Putting Youth To Work In Their Communities
   24th June 2010 | Size: 1.48MB | File Type: pdf