A new beginning after the war, reintegration for Liberian returnees

Liberia was affected by a devastating civil war between 1989 and 2003. Three quarters of a million people lost their homes in the West African country, and became refugees as they ran from the fighting. A quarter of a million died.

Many of the people that fled the war remained refugees for a long time. Following years of voluntary repatriation, in July 2012 the Cessation Clause was announced and the majority of the remaining refugees returned to Liberia.

“It was a bold step to take. Living in country that is not yours is very difficult, for me it was necessary to come home”, recalls Georgia Gage, 38. She and her three children returned to Monrovia in 2013, after 10 years as refugees in Nigeria.

In April 2013, UNIDO launched the Reintegration for Liberian Returnees through the Skills Training and Job Creation Programme.

With funding from the Government of Japan, in close cooperation with the Liberian Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC) and the Liberian Returnee Network, UNIDO implemented Entrepeneurship Development (EDP) and vocational skills training.

This programme has helped returning refugees to reintegrate into their country of origin.

Georgia was one of 300 returnees who successfully applied to the Vocational Skills Training.The programme offered 22 market oriented specializations. She undertook the training for a curtain making business, and learnt to use a sewing machine for the first time. She also learnt business management skills.

“The training helped me improve the quality of my family life very much. I am forever grateful to UNIDO”, she says proudly. Before leaving Liberia she was a high school graduate, “I had no trade or career to count on. So when I came back, with the help of UNIDO, I had something to sustain my family, I am truly grateful”.

Terrance Ballah, 30, returned to Liberia after seeking asylum in Sierra Leone. He is one of nearly 700 people who had 120 hours of EDP training.

“I received a certificate in Auto-electricity, learned about fault-finding, repairing, replacement, and maintenance. They also taught us about entrepreneurship, customer service, and how to be efficient while working”, he said.

Once he finished the training, Terrance was able to sustain himself and with his earnings he paid for a specialized course in electronic technics. Right after that he followed his entrepreneurial dream and together with a friend opened his own business.

“The training helped me improve my life. Before I was dependent on my brothers and sisters, but now I became self-employed and I do everything for myself”, he added.

More than 1000 returnees successfully completed the training with hopes of being able to support their families and start a new life after the war. However, the outbreak of the Ebola virus delayed their plans and only after the crisis many could find the so longed livelihood.

A follow-up study on the role of UNIDO’s training on the economic integration of repatriated refugees in Liberia, published this year, shows a clear improvement in employment and income status of the liberians who decided to come back.

“With the diminishing of the external shock of the Ebola crisis in Liberia, the findings of this follow-up study better demonstrate the potential of vocational training programmes for the reintegration of repatriates in Liberia”, the study stated.

Terrance is married and has a child, he and his business partner can be found in their workshop every day, repairing diferent electronic devices. Georgia works from home, she makes  curtains, pillows, bedsheets and dreams about having her own shop where she can showcase her products and expand her business.

“I believe it was the right choice to come back home. I feel good about coming home - the opportunities I have now would never have been available in a foreign country as a refugee”, Terrance confirms.