The Social Progress Index in its 2016 report, ranks Liberia at 124 of the 134 nations. The SPI is a comprehensive and expansive report detailing the capacity of a society to meet the basic human needs of its citizens, establishing the building blocks that allow citizens and communities to enhance and sustain the quality of their lives, and create the conditions for all individuals to reach their full potential.
SPI’s definition is the basis of the three dimensions of social progress: Basic Human Needs, Foundations of Wellbeing, and Opportunity. The 2016 report focuses on these four principles in its measurements—namely: The Social Progress Index incorporates four key design principles:
Exclusively social and environmental indicators: It aims is to measure social progress directly, rather than utilize economic proxies or outcomes.
Outcomes not inputs: It aim is to measure the outcomes that matter to the lives of real people, not the inputs.
Holistic and relevant to all countries: It aims is to create a holistic measure of social progress that encompasses the many aspects of the health of societies.
Actionable: The Index aims to be a practical tool that will help leaders and practitioners in government, business, and civil society to implement policies and programs that will drive faster social progress.
Thus, Aristotle is correct that “Man is by nature a social animal; an individual who is unsocial naturally and not accidentally is either beneath our notice or more than human. Society is something that precedes the individual. Anyone who either cannot lead the common life or is so self-sufficient as not to need to, and therefore does not partake of society, is either a beast or a god. ”
On this note, the ALDC, a Liberian–American run think tank seeks the collective attention and possible action of all Liberians to wake up from our national amnesia unfolding in Liberia with the pending general and presidential elections of 2017, while UNMIL completes its drawdown this month. We believe that the onus is on every meaningful Liberian to reflect on our nation’s history and progress. This year, marks the 200th Anniversary of Liberia as a future colony, conceived by seventeen powerful Caucasian American men on December 21, 1816 and the 179th Independence Celebration on July 26, 2016.
With many international laurels bestowed upon Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf since her ascendency to state power for over a decade, the SPI 2016 report, unlike many Western political leaders and organizations that continue to heap praises on the president, the report poignantly states the vast disparities and frustrations felt immensely by majority of the Liberian population—from nepotism to cronyism and rampant corruption, conflict of interests, selective justice, in which the president and her inner circle are implicated, including other branches of government and the society at large.
On this note, the ALDC whole heartedly appreciate the candid report of SPI 2016 and pray that Liberians everywhere can reflect on this comprehensive report on the 4th poorest nation, to work towards a paradigm shift especially with our greatest asset 2017—the way we vote for our national leaders. Otherwise, we may fall further in the next SPI report.