The problem – A clean neighborhood can be a source of civic pride as well as a signal that government is functioning properly. For Monrovia, Liberia, a city in a country that exited two decades of civil war at the beginning of the millennium, municipal solid waste management was also viewed as a source of employment for ex combatants. A side consequence of the disorder and horror of war was a mass exodus skilled individuals from Liberia that left a dearth of experienced administrators and an inability to provide basic city services.

The way forward – A program sponsored by the World Bank provided waste pickup for sections of the city. Funding and consulting expertise were provided to stand up a new section of city government that would be responsible for supplemental waste collection and transferal.

Contribution – Project management; progress review.