Publications

This Policy is a vision statement of where Liberians want to go with their land sector; none of the below principles or recommendations will be applied retroactively to change prior actions by the Government. Rather, this Policy will help ensure that in the future Liberia’s land sector is orderly, just, and contributes to economic growth and development for all Liberians. 

This report evaluates Putu Iron Ore Mining operations in southeastern Liberia. At the PIOM concession, full-scale mining has not yet commenced, and as such the local population is largely hopeful of future opportunities and the company enjoys a fairly strong reputation. However, there are signs for concern. In 2011 a riot at PIOM caused two deaths and necessitated an ERU response, and there have been local complaints that the company is not doing enough to offer stable employment opportunities to residents of the district.

This report highlights China Union’s slowness in living up to provisions of its agreement with the Government of Liberia, pointing to widespread dissatisfaction in Fuamah District, Bong County with the company’s operations and its abusive treatment of Liberian workers. SDI called on the Government of Liberia to press China Union to ensure that it fully complies with the terms of its Mineral Development Agreement with Liberia and that allegations of violence against Liberian workers are addressed and that violators are punished.

This report reveals that Liberia earns too little from its iron ore exports. It reveals that the country gives overly generous tax breaks to iron ore investors grossly undercutting its revised Revenue Code. For example, while the Revenue Code requires multinationals to pay 30 percent income taxes on all corporate profits, ArcelorMittal, China Union, and Putu only pay 25 percent. The report also reveals that state-citizen relations and relations between local communities and foreign multi-nationals operating in the mining sector are strained.

The Sustainable Development Institute (SDI), founded in 2002, was accredited by the Government of Liberia in 2004. Following a decade of work on community rights issues in the forestry, agriculture, land, and mining sectors, the SDI is using its 10th Anniversary to reflect on achievements and challenges to inform planning for the future. Achievements in this context refer to progressive changes in policies, laws and regulations governing the natural resources sector to which the organisation has made significant interventions.

This guide is intended to support communities make an informed and participatory decision about whether or not they want to share their lands and resources with companies or investors. It is meant to help make sure that communities think carefully about if they want to share their lands and resources, and if yes, how to make sure those communities will get a fair deal in return. This guide will help foster peace between a community and company or investor through open and honest discussions.

These posters explain details of Sime Darby and Golden Veroleum Liberia’s concession agreements with the Government of Liberia highlighting key areas of concern related to community rights. The posters are designed to be used as educational resources for communities. They are for educational purposes only; for legal interpretations please refer to the original contracts.

The Government of Liberia has drafted a new land policy that recognizes community ownership rights over their customary lands. The Community Guide to Protecting Community Lands and Resources teaches communities how to go through the process of documenting and protecting their customary lands and natural resources.

This report presents an analysis of lessons learned from the forest sector reform process and includes recommendations for all key players to ensure the implementation of the VPA will contribute to improving good governance in Liberia.

This report compiles evidence from community land titling initiatives in three countries in an effort to address community land protection issues in policy and practice. The report concludes that community land documentation may be a more efficient method of land protection than individual and family titling.