In response, at the Clinton Global Initiative in September 2006, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf challenged participants to support the efforts of her government to reconstruct Liberia. In particular she requested support for Liberia's private sector which, in her view, had a leading role to play in the area of job creation, revenue generation and overall economic activity.

To take on the challenge, the RLJ Companies joined forces with CHF International, the U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), and the African Development Bank to ensure that Liberia’s private sector becomes an engine of sustainable development. Together they created the Liberian Enterprise Development Finance Company (LEDFC) to address the challenge small- and medium-enterprises are facing by facilitating access to capital. In addition to credit, Liberian enterprises will also receive business development assistance to ensure that their ideas will have the greatest chance for success. LEDFC hopes to provide for the credit needs of 1,500 Liberian businesses. For more detailed information, visit the LEDFC website.

Prior to the implementation of LEDFC, CHF International successfully completed the Locally Initiated Networks for Community Strengthening (LINCS) Program earlier this year with the support of the U.S. Agency for International Development. LINCS worked to strengthen the prospects for peace and stability at the community and district levels in Voinjama, Salayea, and Zorzor Districts of Lofa County, in northern Liberia. Program activities focused on enhancing local capacity to mitigate conflict and violence by addressing the root causes and consequences of conflicts, facilitating dispute resolution between ex-combatants and their “host” communities, and improving communication at all levels. Specifically, LINCS did so by:

• Establishing Community Peace Councils (CPCs)
  CHF International helped to establish CPCs, consisting not only of ordinary men and women, but also ex-combatants and community leaders, in each community. Members of these CPCs were then charged with intervening when disputes arose and sensitizing community members to potential future disputes–especially those associated with the return of refugees and internally displaced people. By the end of the program, CHF had established 70 CPCs that had disputed more than 900 land, theft, and domestic violence disputes.
  
• Introducing Livelihoods Projects
  Livelihood projects were designed to strengthen community cohesion, advance reconciliation and build local leadership. CHF provided CPC members, as well as various community members, with training on how to effectively manage and maintain a range of projects proposed by the community. Livelihoods workshops covered agriculture and animal husbandry, livestock management, housing, sanitation, marketing products, and record keeping.
  
• Building/Renovating Community Centers
  Besides being a meeting place for the CPCs, community centers often serve as informal schools for children, hosted social/cultural activities that bring the community together, and serve as a place of worship. The construction of the centers and the livelihoods projects have contributed immensely to the peace building process, since both activities are geared towards bringing people together for the common goal of peace. 69 communities in Lofa county completed the construction of their community centers.
  
• Conflict Management, Mediation, and Leadership Workshops
  CHF International also hosted Conflict Management, Mediation and Leadership workshops for community peace council members, local officials, town chiefs, and landlords. Each workshop brought together representatives from five to 12 CHF-partner communities to learn about basic mediation, positive decision making processes, how to assess community needs, and how to foster a culture of peace and reconciliation.

Download the Fact Sheet above for full details.