Centralization Hinders Rural Development -CENTAL Report Reveals CSDF Progress, Challenges

MONROVIA – Liberia’s County Social Development Funds (CSDF) delivered to host communities by concessionaries has been a crucial pillar for local development, aiming to bridge the gap in basic infrastructure and services. However, a recent report by the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) reveals a mixed bag of progress and challenges in the management of CSDF projects across six counties. Amongst other things, the report highlights that despite notable achievements, such as the construction of new schools and improvement of health facilities, concerns persist about incomplete works, slow implementation, and limited inclusion of vulnerable groups. To address these challenges, CENTAL recommends prioritizing fewer, high-impact projects, integrating accessibility features, and strengthening institutional support for County Councils. The Analyst reports.

The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) today released its 2025 Research Report on the County Social Development Funds (CSDF), highlighting both progress and challenges in the management of CSDF projects across six counties.

Titled “Open Expenditure: Examining CSDF Projects In Six Counties,” the report reveals that while CSDF has contributed to the construction of new schools, renovation of town halls, and improvement in health facilities, there are concerns about incomplete works, slow implementation, and limited inclusion of vulnerable groups and voices.

It was conducted in June 2025, through field visits in six counties – Nimba, Bong, Grand Bassa, Bomi, Rivercess, and Gbarpolu Counties where the team assessed overall effectiveness of the CSDF.

During a press conference yesterday, the civil society group said: “As you may be aware, with funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), through the Embassy of Sweden in Liberia, CENTAL is implementing the National Integrity Building and Anti-Corruption Program in Monteserrado, Grand Bassa, Rivercess, Bomi, Gbarpolu, Bong, and Nimba Counties.

“A key activity of the program is the Open Expenditure Initiative (OEI), through which we conduct budget forums; monitor infrastructure and other projects; assess the inclusiveness and transparency of decision-making around project selection, award, and implementation; and the overall impacts of the funds on citizens, including women, youths, and persons with special needs. Also, we track associated challenges, disbursement patterns of projects funds, citizens’ access to expenditure and other essential information and advocate for improved and inclusive management of the funds.

“Over the years, these engagements have identified successes, but at the same time uncovered several inadequacies with the appropriation, disbursement and implementation of the CSDF projects.”

The research team visited over thirty (30) project sites, including schools, hospitals, markets, bridges, and administrative buildings; conducted interviews with county authorities; and consulted community representatives.

The report notes that centralization of local development remains a major challenge, with much of the funding spent on government infrastructure in county capitals, limiting benefits to rural communities.

Weak contract management, limited inclusion of vulnerable groups, and capacity gaps in County Councils were also identified as key issues affecting the effective utilization of CSDF funds.

One notable example is the Jawajeh Town Hall project in Bomi County, which highlights weak contract management, where unauthorized contract changes increased costs and left the project incomplete for years.

Similarly, in Gbarnga, Bong County, children were observed working at a school construction site, violating the Children’s Law of 2011 and exposing weak contractor oversight.

The report emphasizes that CSDF funding were applied toward administrative buildings, government facilities, and other administrative operations rather than community-centered development.

It also notes that communities were largely excluded from decision-making, having limited access to information on disbursements, which affects their ability to track project implementation and demand accountability, where necessary.

To address these challenges, CENTAL recommends that counties prioritize fewer, high-impact projects that can be fully completed and functional, linking construction with necessary operational support.

The group also accessibility features must be mandatory in all CSDF projects and integrated from the design stage, with inputs from disability organizations to ensure inclusion.

County Councils need stronger institutional support, including staff, stipends, and logistics, to fulfill their mandate under the Local Government Act of 2018.

Partnering with professional bodies and capacity development institutions can build technical capacity and improve CSDF planning, monitoring, and accountability.

The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning should prioritize timely release of CSDF allocations and concession contributions.

Counties should continue using payment control mechanisms, such as partial disbursement linked to work completion, but these must be balanced with predictable schedules to maintain momentum and prevent unnecessary delays.

Structured county-level monitoring mechanisms should be institutionalized, with active involvement of County Councils, civil society, and community representatives, including women and youth. This will ensure oversight is regular, participatory, and independent of external actors.

“We hope that the findings and recommendations of this report will inform policy decisions and contribute to improved management of CSDF projects, ultimately benefiting the people of Liberia,” said The Management of CENTAL.

Amongst others, the research revealed both visible progress and persistent challenges in the management of CSDF projects. In alignment with relevant priorities of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, Citizens acknowledged the construction of new schools, renovation of town halls, and improvement in health facilities.

However, they raised concerns about incomplete works, slow implementation, and limited inclusion of vulnerable groups and voices. Findings show that Communities were largely excluded from decision-making, having limited access to information on disbursements, which affects their ability to track project implementation and demand accountability, where necessary. 

The report also found that CSDF funding were applied toward administrative buildings, government facilities, and other administrative operations rather than community-centered development.

Highlight of key findings:

According to the group, despite its goal of promoting local development, CSDF implementation remains highly centralized, with much of the funding spent on government infrastructure in county capitals. This limits benefits to rural communities, a trend particularly evident in Grand Bassa, Nimba, and Bong Counties, where communities receive little direct impact from CSDF projects.

In Gbarnga, Bong County, children were observed working at a school construction site, violating the Children’s Law of 2011 and exposing weak contractor oversight, until county authorities intervened. In contrast, the completed Fenlah Town Hall in Bong County shows how effective oversight fosters community pride and ownership.

Across the six counties, CSDF funds were spread across many sectors, weakening impact and leaving projects under-resourced. In Nimba County, a completed youth center in Bunadin lacked basic amenities, illustrating how infrastructure without operational support limits actual and long-term benefits.

Most CSDF-funded facilities lacked accessibility features, limiting benefits for persons with disabilities despite engineers’ assurances. In Nimba County, disability advocates welcomed limited support but stressed that true inclusion remains absent from project design and implementation.

Relations between County Councils and administrations were generally cordial in most counties, though tensions emerged in Rivercess due to resource constraints. Across all six counties, councils face serious capacity gaps, including unfilled support offices, lack of stipends, and limited logistics, weakening their ability to effectively oversee CSDF projects.

Procurement and payment practices under the CSDF varied considerably across the counties, reflecting uneven systems of oversight and accountability. Some counties reported stricter approval processes and phased payment arrangements designed to prevent project abandonment and improve value for money. Others, however, faced severe funding constraints and uncertainty, relying on anticipated concession revenues that had not yet been transparently disclosed.

Recommendations

CENTEL has made a couple of recommendations, stating that rather than spreading resources thin, counties should prioritize fewer, high-impact projects that can be fully completed and functional, linking construction with necessary operational support. Accessibility features must be mandatory in all CSDF projects and integrated from the design stage, with inputs from disability organizations to ensure inclusion.

It also asked that County Councils need stronger institutional support, including staff, stipends, and logistics, to fulfill their mandate under the Local Government Act of 2018. Partnering with professional bodies and capacity development institutions can build technical capacity and improve CSDF planning, monitoring, and accountability.

CENTAL implored the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning should prioritize timely release of CSDF allocations and concession contributions and that counties should continue using payment control mechanisms, such as partial disbursement linked to work completion, but these must be balanced with predictable schedules to maintain momentum and prevent unnecessary delays.

It also called for structured county-level monitoring mechanisms should be institutionalized, with active involvement of County Councils, civil society, and community representatives, including women and youth. This will ensure oversight is regular, participatory, and independent of external actors.