One of the most dramatic effects of the Liberian Civil War was the massive migration to Monrovia of displaced peoples from all over the country. As various rebel groups pillaged and plundered throughout the Liberian countryside, rural Liberians found it harder and harder to live as they had in the past. As their small businesses and farms became merely targets for looting, people fled to Monrovia in search of security and the benefits doled out by international aid organizations like the World Food Program (WFP). Of the 3.5 million people living in Liberia today, over 2 million of them live in Monrovia and the surrounding areas.

Like in many other major cities in the developing world, this massive migration has resulted in stress on every kind of infrastructure, physical, governmental, societal etc. Keep in mind this is infrastructure that in the very best case is 20 years old, and in the worst case was destroyed, distorted, or manipulated during the civil war. As a result, the poorest Liberians are struggling to make do in an overrun city where living conditions are so bad that they often pose dramatic health risks. Meanwhile, since peace has returned to the countryside, much of Liberia’s fertile and productive land has gone unutilized. It is odd to see that even the most basic food items like rice and eggs are imported from abroad.

On the “road” to my house last week, a bulldozer was going to work on all of the make shift structures and lean-tos that had grown into an illegal slum neighborhood. People have grown accustomed to living in the city, even if they have done so illegally. After the war, money poured into Monrovia along with the promise of economic opportunity. The U.N., international NGOs and other organizations have invested heavily into Monrovia of late, however, much of this wealth does not trickle down. My friend Myles has been documenting other kinds of opportunities available in the city, and they are meager for sure. Perhaps the government “cleanups” of slums will encourage folks to move back to the countryside to work the land, and begin to provide food for the nation. In addition to basic agriculture, the countryside is blessed with many other kinds of natural resources: timber, minerals, precious metals, and of course waves. What will it take for people to realize the economic opportunity of the land their parents and grandparents left a generation ago?

In its work across the rural parts of Liberia, the Foundation for Women endeavors to provide economic opportunity through loans. Many of our women borrowers are farmers, raise chickens, harvest palm oil, or participate other profitable rural activities that will help Liberia rebuild its own economy from the ground up. Though it is only part of the puzzle (for example the roads must be rebuilt to make transport of food feasible), hopefully the provision of economic opportunity in rural parts will incentivize Liberians to move back to the countryside and escape the harsh realities of Monrovia.