Empowering high-risk youth in Liberia through therapy and violence prevention

With a population of approximately 4.8 million, Liberia has a particularly young demographic with 70% of its citizens under the age of 35. The country faces significant socio-economic challenges as only 3.5% of youth aged 15-24 hold formal and stable employment. After two devastating civil wars, many former combatants predominantly men turned to illegal activities such as drug trafficking, extortion and armed violence due to inadequate post-conflict reintegration (Blattman et al., 2022). In 2008, an estimated 9,000 ex-combatants were still engaged in illicit activities like mining, logging and rubber tapping living in high-risk “hotspots” across the country (Blattman and Annan, 2016). This marginalization, combined with high rates of unemployment, poverty and informality, poses a threat to social stability. In 2023, insecurity remains a major concern for Liberians.

To address these issues, the Network for Empowerment & Progressive Initiative, a nonprofit organization, launched the Sustainable Transformation of Youth in Liberia (STYL) program in 2009. This innovative initiative, led by ex-combatants and formerly high-risk men, used Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to reduce antisocial behaviors and help participants build new social identities independent of crime (Blattman et al., 2017). Rigorous evaluations have shown promising long-term impacts on those who participated in the initial program, demonstrating its potential as a scalable solution to Liberia’s ongoing challenges (Blattman et al., 2022).

The Sustainable Transformation of Youth in Liberia program leverages Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to address crime and violence among high-risk young men. The program targets high-risk young men aged 18 to 35, living in Monrovia's most at risk areas, involved in or susceptible to criminal activities like street fighting and drug dealing. The selection prioritizes participants with significant challenges such as former armed group involvement and homelessness. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy seeks to change harmful thoughts and behaviors focusing on reducing impulsivity, anger and depression. It provides participants with the tools to reshape their intentions, actions and ultimately their identities (Blattman et al., 2015).

The program offers an eight-week Cognitive Behavioral Therapy course combining lectures, group discussions and practical exercises to help participants develop positive social identities improve self-control and manage anger and interpersonal violence. Participants also engage in real-life exposure and reflect on their experiences to reinforce these behavioral changes. Additionally, participants receive cash transfers of $315 intended to support their transition toward stable and lawful livelihoods such as investing in education or small businesses.

FID will support three key components of the program:

• First, the delivery of the Sustainable Transformation of Youth in Liberia program to 2,000 high-risk young men through group Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy sessions and one-on-one counseling.
• Second, the distribution of cash transfers to participants, accompanied by strict compliance measures to ensure transparency and prevent misuse.
• Finally, technical assistance will improve monitoring, evaluation and learning strategies while supporting the program’s expansion across Liberia. As part of this second stage, an evaluation will test adjustments to improve efficiency and scalability.

In its current phase, the program aims to reach 2,000 participants over three years in Monrovia’s most vulnerable neighborhoods. The Sustainable Transformation of Youth in Liberia program equips high-risk young men with essential skills and resources to foster behavioral change and reduce violence.

The expected outcomes include:

• Short-Term Outcomes: Participants gain key self-control and planning skills, practice these new behaviors and apply them to real-life situations. The cash grant encourages them to take future-oriented actions, such as opening a bank account.
• Intermediate Outcomes: Participants develop a more positive self-image and enhance their decision-making skills, becoming more patient and improving their financial habits such as saving and budgeting.
• Long-Term Impact: The program aims to promote sustainable livelihoods, reduce rates of violence and antisocial behavior, and generate positive social outcomes in communities.

The program will also provide evidence on the effectiveness of combining Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with cash transfers, guiding future efforts to expand the intervention to other regions.

The project team will implement a gradual scale-up strategy with four phases per year targeting 250 participants each while collaborating with government ministries and technical partners to explore pathways for broader adoption. The project team identified Lagos for short-term expansion due to its young population, limited education access, poor healthcare and poverty and unemployment rates increasing vulnerability to crime and violence.