Ycwliberia

RIVERCESS

Rivercess County is situated in central Liberia, bordered by Grand Bassa County to the southwest, Grand Kru County to the southeast, and Margibi County to the northwest. The county capital is Cestos City. Rivercess County was established in 1984 when it was carved out of Grand Bassa County with a population of 124,653 (2022 Census). The economy of Rivercess County, like many other areas in Liberia, is mostly based on agriculture. Residents engage in subsistence farming, cultivating crops such as rice, cassava, and other staples. As with many other parts of Liberia, there have been ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure in Rivercess County, including roads and basic services to enhance connectivity and the overall living conditions of the population. Access to education and healthcare services is crucial for the well-being of the population. Efforts are made to improve these social services in the county.

In Rivercess County (Yarpah’s Town, Little Liberia, and Cestos), Youth Crime Watch of Liberia implemented a 9-month Community Security and Peacebuilding Project with funding support from UNDP Liberia:

  • With financial support from the UN Peacebuilding Fund office through UNDP Liberia, Youth Crime Watch of Liberia successfully implemented a nine-month project titled “Enhancing a Peaceful Electoral Environment and Community Security” across five counties including Rivercess County, with a specific focus on key locations such as Yarpah’s Town, Cestos City, and Little Liberia Town in Rivercess County. The overall objective of this project was to strengthen the capacities of various stakeholders, including 100 joint securities, 225 community watch teams, representatives from political parties, and local authorities.
The Project team successfully collaborated with key partners including the Liberia Peace Building Office, the National Election Commission, the Independent National Human Rights Commission, the Liberian National Police, and the Ministry of Justice. The primary focus of the project was to foster a peaceful electoral environment by implementing targeted interventions in conflict prevention and addressing the potential escalation of insecurity, human rights violations, and electoral violence leading up to, during, and after the 2023 General Elections in Liberia. A key component of the project involved enhancing policy reforms and reinforcing existing Early Warning and Response (EWER) mechanisms. This included mainstreaming human rights, gender, and youth-based approaches, particularly at the grassroots level. The project played a vital role in supporting responses to both actual and perceived triggers of electoral violence by integrating a diverse range of actors into the Early Warning and Response mechanism. In terms of beneficiaries, the project had a significant impact on over 1,500 direct and indirect recipients, including joint securities, community watch teams, political party representatives, and local authorities. Through a complete and joint approach, the Project effectively contributed to creating an environment conducive to the just-ended peaceful elections, while simultaneously addressing potential challenges related to insecurity and electoral violence. The success of the project underscores the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships in promoting sustainable peace and security within the context of democratic processes.