PROJECTS

The Kaizen Company implemented the third phase of the Mitigating Local Disputes in Liberia (MLDL III) program, funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). Kaizen supported Liberia’s security structures under the County Security Mechanism (CSM) which aims to resolve disputes at all levels before they mushroom into large-scale conflicts. To assist the CSM in mitigating disputes, Kaizen built the human and institutional capacity of security personnel, local government officials, and citizens while developing and expanding CSM structures, including County Security Councils (CSCs), District Security Councils (DSCs), and Community Forums (CFs). By working to improve CSM structures, MLDL III built citizens’ trust and confidence in the security apparatus’ ability to fairly and rapidly respond to issues.

MLDL III built the capacity of security personnel, local government representatives, and citizens to effectively identify, communicate, and collaborate to resolve disputes and security concerns, which strengthens the rule of law both locally and nationwide. In particular, MLDL III supported the Government of Liberia’s Early Warning-Early Response (EWER) mechanism which enabled local communities and national security institutions alike to rapidly respond to violent conflicts and health crises, such as Ebola and other disease outbreaks, border security, terrorist threats, and human trafficking, in vulnerable rural and border regions. Building on the success of MLDL II, this third iteration of the program contnued to develop and expand CSCs, DSCs, and CFs in Lofa, Bong, Grand Gedeh, and Nimba counties in addition to developing new programs in Grand Cape Mount and Gbarpolu.