The mission of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Liberia is promoting the attainment of the highest possible level of health by all the people of Liberia. To facilitate this process, WHO, working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOH & SW), has updated/revised the Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) covering the period 2008-2011. It is a medium-term, adaptable, country-specific framework for cooperation between the Government of Liberia and the World Health Organization.

The updating/revision of the CCS is most appropriate, realizing that the country is experiencing a transition from a 14-year civil conflict to reconstructing and rebuilding its health system. In updating and revising the CCS, a 12-member WHO/MOH & SW CCS Core Team conducted an in-depth desk review, and prepared the preliminary draft. The draft was reviewed by a small technical working group constituted by the WR and WHO senior staff. Following this review, a one-day review session was hosted, during which the draft CCS document was presented to senior officials of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the UN and other collaborating partners for in-depth discussion and analysis with a view to obtaining country-level endorsement and ownership.

The 8-chapter document analyses: health and development challenges facing the country; the key health policy issues and challenges; the general trends of aid to Liberia; the significant aspects of the WHO current cooperation with the Government of Liberia; the Global and Regional Directions of WHO Corporate Policy Framework; the Strategic Agenda for 2008- 2011; implications of the Strategic Agenda for the WHO Secretariat; and Monitoring and Evaluation...