Lessons from Liberia

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the evolution of integrated peacebuilding strategies in post-conflict Liberia between 2003 and 2008. It analyzes the collaboration between the Government of Liberia (GoL) and the United Nations (UN), specifically UNMIL and the UN Country Team, to move from tenuous security to a sustainable peace. The document details the process of identifying 'conflict factors', infusing conflict sensitivity into national policy frameworks like the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS), and the challenges of balancing security-oriented benchmarks with long-term peacebuilding goals.

• Liberia's transition from conflict to peace is supported by a four-pillar policy framework established by the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf administration in January 2006, focusing on security, economic recovery, governance and rule of law, and infrastructure and basic services.
• Despite progress, Liberia faces persistent conflict challenges, including rising lawlessness, insufficient security sector capacity, incomplete reintegration of ex-combatants, and the illegal exploitation of natural resources by disgruntled youth and deactivated soldiers.

APA

McCandless, E. (2008). Lessons from Liberia. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Paper161.pdf

Chicago

McCandless, Erin. Lessons from Liberia. Institute for Security Studies, 2008. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Paper161.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=McCandless |first1=Erin |title=Lessons from Liberia |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=April 2008 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Paper161.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mccandless2008lessons, author = {McCandless, Erin}, title = {{Lessons from Liberia}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2008}, month = apr, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Paper161.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }