Decentralization and Service Delivery: A Comparative Case Study of the Health and Social Welfare Departments in Liberia

Abstract

Decentralization has been viewed widely by many in Liberia as the panacea to the challenges of development in Liberia. With close to five years of the decentralization of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the study sought to examine the services delivery of the Departments of Health and Social Welfare; comparing the progress chalked by both Departments and the challenges that are experienced in the process of decentralization in the Departments. Employing a qualitative research method, in-depth interviews were held with selected participants which included Ministry officials and Community Leaders. The study found that even though the Ministry had started the implementation of the decentralization program, the Department of Health had advanced far greatly than the Department of Social Welfare. There were great disparities in the implementation of the decentralization program between the two Departments. The Health Sector was better funded, had more logistics and staff than the Social Welfare Sector. The study also found that Health officials tended to lead in every sphere of the Ministry’s operations, relegating the welfare staff to the background. There was very minimal collaboration between the Departments of Health and Social Welfare. Overall, even though the decentralization program has had some positive impact on the service delivery in the Ministry of Health and Social welfare, there is much to be done in order for the people at the local level to have the real benefits of the program. It is therefore recommended that the government takes steps to stem the fragmentations in social services delivery in the country, provide the needed funding for Social Welfare service delivery and in the medium to long term, detach the Department of Social Welfare from the Ministry of Health and create an all new Ministry to encompass Social Welfare and allied agencies in the country.