LIBERIA / EBOLA ECONOMY IMPACT

Liberia -one of the three most affected countries by Ebola- could experience negative GDP growth for the first time since the war ended 11 years ago unless urgent action is taken to stimulate the economy. This West African country was one of the fastest growing economies in the world last year, but recent projections show that the country’s growth could be going backwards in 2015. UNDP

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:03:07
• Production Date: 5 December 2014
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME - UNDP
• Subject Topical: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; FINANCING; ECONOMIC CONDITIONS; ECONOMY; ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; DEVELOPMENT; DEVELOPMENT FINANCE; AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS; AGRICULTURAL POLICY; RURAL SOCIOLOGY; HEALTH
• Geographic Subject: LIBERIA
• MAMS Id: 1258670

Description

STORY: LIBERIA / EBOLA ECONOMY IMPACT
TRT: 3:07
SOURCE: UNDP
RESTRICTIONS: NOE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 21 NOVEMBER 2014, MONROVIA, LIBERIA

Shotlist

1.Various shots, market in Monrovia
2.SOUNDBITE (English) Diamond Roberts, Cook:
“Before the errands would be very packed with people; people coming in for lunch, for breakfast in the morning, but we don’t see it like that these days. Few people come in and go about their business and go, so we are very disappointed.”
3.Close up, Diamond Roberts counting money
4.Med shot, customer eating
5.Wide shot, food workers,
6.SOUNDBITE (English) Kamil Kamaluddeen, Country Director, UNDP Liberia:
“The latest estimates show that GDP numbers are down to 1%. Some estimates are even saying that is even to where we are able to get ahead of the curve. Otherwise it will go down to zero. These are numbers that are unprecedented in post-war Liberia.”
7.Various shots, market in Monrovia
8.SOUNDBITE (English) Kamil Kamaluddeen, Country Director, UNDP Liberia:
“And we should not forget that a sizable number of the jobs that you have in this country are vulnerable jobs. Jobs that are not stable, jobs that are informal, jobs that are mostly casual, so in the first place when you have a crisis like this, they’re the ones that go first. About half of marketers are not working because markets were closed for a longer period, during which period they’ve seen their incomes gone, they’ve seen their working capital wiped out, they’ve seen their savings eroded.”
9.Various shots, market
10.Med shot, Martin K. Wegee with customers
11.SOUNDBITE (English) Martin K. Wegee, Shop Owner:
“Ebola hit. No good business going on. The way that people used to come and buy they’re not buying like before. So if there were 4 persons who would come and buy or 10 persons, now we see like 3 persons or 2 persons daily.”
12.Various shots, market

Storyline

Liberia -one of the three most affected countries by Ebola- could experience negative GDP growth for the first time since the war ended 11 years ago unless urgent action is taken to stimulate the economy.

Liberia was one of the fastest growing economies in the world last year, but recent projections show that the country’s growth could be going backwards in 2015.

However, there are signs of hope. The Government of Liberia is determined to stop the backward slide with UNDP support. The rainy season is now over, and farmers are being encouraged to start planting again.

Investments are being made in roads and construction, industries that create jobs and opportunities for suppliers. Mining companies have started their operations again and will be exporting minerals in the coming months. Thousands of foreign workers have also arrived in the country, which is giving a big boost to the service sector.

UNDP is supporting the government in several ways to avoid the economic downspin. It works with the Ministry of Health to ensure health workers are paid on time and to recruit thousands of community workers to identify Ebola cases.

UNDP has also provided the Ministry with logistical support – cars, motorbikes, personal protective equipment, radios and other goods as needed. UNDP will also channel funds to the poorest Liberians through social safety nets to help them get back on their feet.