What is the ARD
The Alliance for Rural Democracy (ARD) is a network of community-based organizations, pro-poor enterprises, and informal groups across Liberia, united to tackle challenges faced by rural poor, urban slum and squatter communities, informal sector institutions, and emerging independent labor unions. Established on December 1, 2010, through an MoU signed on February 18, 2009, by 15 organizations, it was launched in Grand Gedeh County on November 29, 2009. Legally registered as a not-for-profit, the ARD operates under the motto “Driving the Needed Change; Realizing Rights & Empowering the Poor.” It addresses issues like the transgression of community rights and the resource curse in Liberia, where natural resource exploitation has historically lacked transparency, accountability, and equitable benefit-sharing, often leading to underdevelopment and conflicts between local communities, concessionaires, and the government. The ARD’s objectives include fostering a democratic political order, reducing rights violations through legal aid and education, and advocating for public participation in resource management as per Article 7 of the Liberian Constitution.
Background and History
The ARD emerged from a critical need to address the exclusion of civil society and rural communities from Liberia’s natural resource and economic sectors, compounded by a lack of transparency and accountability in benefit distribution. This “resource curse” has fueled underdevelopment and conflicts among local people, concessionaires, and the government. The initiative began with a broad-based consultative meeting in August 2008 in Monrovia, involving over 40 leaders from community-based organizations across counties like Bomi, Bong, and Nimba, alongside groups such as the National Charcoal Union and urban slum representatives. This meeting laid the groundwork for the ARD as a vehicle to enhance economic, social, and cultural rights.
Key milestones include:
August 2008: Leaders met to discuss rights enhancement, drafting an MoU for a network focused on economic, social, and cultural rights (ESCR).
February 2010: The first Bi-Annual Meeting in Monrovia adopted “ARD” as the network’s name, approved the MoU, designated Green Advocates International as the secretariat, and planned rural bi-annual meetings.
November 2010: The ARD was formally launched at its second Bi-Annual Meeting in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County, adopting its constitution and bye-laws.
May 2011: Third Bi-Annual Meeting held in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County.
September 2012: Fourth Bi-Annual Meeting in Kon Town, Grand Cape Mount County.
December 2013: Last Bi-Annual Meeting in Gbapa, Nimba County, disrupted thereafter by the Ebola pandemic and funding issues.
February 2019: ARD, with partners, released a report on abuses by Socfin rubber companies (SRC and LAC) against local communities.
May 2019: ARD and partner filled an IFC complaint to the Compliance Advisory Ombudsman (CAO) for
Environmental and Human Rights violations perpetrated by SRC on local communities in Liberia.
The ARD remains active in networks like the CSO-Oil Palm Working Group, the NGO Coalition, and the National Oil Palm Platform of Liberia, contributing to national strategies on oil palm and land reform.
