Liberia: UMU Edges AMEU in LEITI Debate On Social Development Funds

MONROVIA — The United Methodist University (UMU) has defeated the African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU) by two points in an inter-university debate organized by the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI) to promote public discussion on the management of Liberia’s extractive resources.

By Anthony Gray Email: [email protected] Contact: 0777308943

The debate, held over the weekend, focused on whether extractive companies should work with affected communities and counties to implement Social Development Funds or whether the Central Government should take full responsibility for managing and implementing the funds.

UMU argued in the affirmative, supporting the involvement of affected communities and counties, while AMEU argued against the motion, maintaining that the Central Government should take full charge of the funds.

The competition generated intense intellectual exchanges, with students from both universities presenting arguments on transparency, accountability, community participation and government responsibility in managing resources generated from the extractive sector.

At the end of the competition, UMU emerged victorious by a narrow margin of two points. The winning team received US$250 in cash and gold-like medals, while AMEU, as runner-up, received US$150 and silver-like medals.

Speaking at the opening of the program, LEITI Head of Secretariat, Jeffrey N. Yates, said the debate was part of the institution’s public engagement activities designed to sample citizens’ views and encourage constructive discussions on issues affecting Liberia’s extractive industry.

Yates said engaging young people in conversations about natural-resource governance is important to strengthening public understanding and promoting greater accountability in the sector.

LEITI is Liberia’s implementing body of the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, which promotes transparency and accountability in the management of natural resources.

The initiative provides information on extractive-sector revenues, payments, contracts and other issues to enable citizens to better understand how the country’s natural resources are managed.

The question of Social Development Funds remains an important issue in Liberia, particularly for communities affected by mining and other extractive activities.

The funds are intended to support development in communities connected to extractive operations, but concerns have periodically been raised about their management, transparency, allocation and implementation.

LEITI’s 15th EITI Report, covering July 2021 to December 2022, reported about US$34 million in social and environmental expenditures by companies in Liberia’s extractive sector, including approximately US$28 million in mandatory social expenditures.

LEITI has also reported concerns raised by citizens during its community engagements over the transparency and accountability surrounding Social Development Funds. In some communities, residents have called for greater participation in determining how funds are used and stronger oversight of projects financed through extractive-sector contributions.

Civil society organizations have similarly raised concerns about the implementation of County Social Development Funds, including issues surrounding citizen participation, decision-making, project monitoring and ensuring that communities receive meaningful benefits from natural-resource activities.

The LEITI debate, therefore, provided a platform for students to examine the competing approaches to managing development funds while encouraging young Liberians to participate in national discussions on transparency, accountability and responsible management of the country’s natural resources.