Projected Calendar of Events

Where does the Process Stand?

1. After a long participatory process, the Chairman of the Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL), Mr. Gyude Bryant, on 18 October 2005 appointed nine commissioners for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). Two tasks, however, are yet to be fulfilled before the TRC becomes operational:

a. Appointment of two outstanding members of International Technical Advisory Committee (ITAC). (The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has identified one candidate. ECOWAS is yet to nominate two ITAC members.)

b. Inauguration of the commission, nine commissioners and three members of ITAC.

2. It is not clear when the commissioners and the ITAC members will be called for inauguration. HRPS, however, based on preliminary consultations with UN agencies and some representatives of donors commends that the inauguration be scheduled for 15 February 2006 in light of the following considerations:

a. It is politically desirable to have the TRC inaugurated under the new democratically elected government.

b. Inauguration before 15 February 2006 would prematurely set in motion the three month preparatory period to be followed immediately by the two years anticipated as the timeframe the TRC would need to accomplish its tasks.

c.Linked to 2 (b) is the issue of funding. Assuming the TRC were inaugurated at this instant, it is unlikely that the funds available to the UNDP would be sufficient to cover, among others things, the founding of the core administrative office and organizing training sessions for commissioners, administrative staff and statement takers.

d. Although UNMIL, UN Agencies, the donor community and the Government of Liberia have been discussing how to sustain the process once the commission is inducted, the main focus during the last three months has been on the elections.

3. If inaugurated on 15 February 2006, by May the TRC should substantively and financially be prepared to achieve its mandate within the prescribed two year period immediately following the three months of preparation. Therefore, making sure that the TRC is well prepared at this point in time may, in the end, prove to be time saving when the commission winds up in two years.

Activities from 1 December to 15 February 2006

4. The question of salaries must immediately be addressed. According to the TRC Act, Article VI (12), “Members of the TRC shall be employed by the government of Liberia and shall render services on a full basis and receive remuneration in an amount determined not to be less than that received by Justices of the Supreme Court of Liberia.” The government’s responsibility in this regard is clear. Article VI (12) goes on to say “Members of the International Technical Advisory Committee shall receive remuneration pursuant to international standards for persons carrying out similar mandates.” However, the Act stops short of specifying how and by whom members of the committee should be paid. Considering these outstanding issues, the following must be undertaken as a matter of urgency:

a. TRC preparatory budget (attached) to be finalized pending agreement of all stakeholders.

b. Key UN entities and donors to participate in the UNDP led fund raising exercise to cover expenses for the preparatory period.

c. Office space to be made available for commissioners even before the induction.

d. Separate budget to be prepared for the Interim Secretariat; the Interim Secretariat will be funded by UNDP and will operate between December 2005 and 15 February 2006.

e. Interim Secretariat to be established and staffed by two international and five national officers to prepare the ground for the work of the Executive Secretariat which will begin once the commissioners are inaugurated.

f. Basic terms of reference, staffing tables and budget for the permanent Executive Secretariat to be prepared

5. From 15 February to 15 May 2006: Preparatory three months
By mid May 2006, the following objectives shall have been achieved:

a. Government funding and basic donor contributions secured;
b. Office space available, furnished and ready for use;
c. Logistical support available;
d. Commissioners and ITAC, Executive Secretariat, and statement takers trained (It is suggested that all training activities be carried out by African and International NGOs with specialized knowledge of truth commissions such as the South Africa based Institute for Justice and Reconciliation or the New York based International Centre for Transitional Justice);
e. Executive Secretariat organized into the following suggested units: Public Outreach and Information, Research and Documentation, Legal Advisory, Finance and Administration.

6. The Role of the International Community in the Process:

a. International Community - UNMIL, UNDP, UNICEF, UNIFEM, as well as donors, ECOWAS and other partners to organize themselves into a steering committee;

b.UNMIL was asked to lead the work of the steering committee;

c. UNDP to elaborate and lead the fundraising exercise;

d. Each partner to clearly define their roles and commitment;

e. The Government of Liberia to confirm the salaries of the commissioners and Executive Secretariat

Suggested TRC Preparatory Period Budget
Prepared by the Transitional Justice Unit, UNMIL Human Rights and Protection Section

Budget Outline 15 February – 15 May 2005

1. The TRC Act provides for a three month preparatory period that may run between 15 February and 15 May. At the end of this period the Executive Secretariat should be fully staffed, with a functioning office space and a clear substantive and financial plan; it will then begin its two and a quarter year operational period.

2. The preparatory period budget (attached) does not cover the cost of the two and a quarter years of operations; based on experiences in East Timor and Sierra Leone this is likely to be budgeted in the region of ten million dollars.

3.The budget incorporates the salaries of the nine commissioners, paid at the scale of a Supreme Court Judge of Liberia, and three members of the International Technical Advisory Committee who may be paid at a scale roughly equivalent to a P4 officer, excluding MSA and hazard pay. The Executive Secretary should be paid at a rate less than that of the commissioners, but at a level high enough to attract capable and well qualified individuals.

4.Given that during the initial phase of operations an Executive Secretary and heads of sections may not have been hired, provision has been made for the use of one or two consultants to assist on technical and substantive issues. The EU has also stated that it would be willing to second a staff member, potentially to assist with finance and resource mobilization.

5. Approximately ten national staff should be hired and be responsible for areas such as communications/public outreach, secretarial, IT and administration. Their salaries are indicated as being equivalent to national UN field service staff.

6. It would be advisable, at an early stage, to develop an internship programme. Internship programmes at the TRC and Special Court in Sierra Leone have proven to be extremely successful and cost effective. Given that the cost of living in Liberia is high $1000 p/month as a stipend would be justifiable; the EU provides similar amounts to interns at the ICC and the Special Court.

7. In order to start the capacity building of the commission it may be advisable to organize a workshop for TRC staff at an early stage and use international consultants and former staff of the Sierra Leone and South Africa TRC as trainers. Staff and commissioners would then be made aware of the history, developments and challenges of TRC’s as well as the issues that will need to be addressed in Liberia.

8. Following the week of capacity building a retreat could be considered; the retreat would enable commissioners, ITAC members and senior staff of the TRC to decide on a substantive and budgetary plan for the following two years.



Liberia Truth and Reconciliation Commission Preparatory Budget

DESCRIPTION Amount Unit Cost Total Cost (Three months)
PERSONNEL
Commissioners 9 4,500 p/m 121,500

International Technical Advisors 3 8,000 p/m 72,000

Executive Secretary 1 3,000 p/m 9,000

Consultants 2 5000 p/m 30,000

Interns 3 1000 p/m 9,000

National Staff 10 800 p/m 24,000

sub-total 265,500
DESCRIPTION Amount Unit Cost Total Cost (Three months)
TRAVEL
Fundraising travel 20,000

Travel on appointment and separation of ITAC 3 2,000 12,000
sub-total 32,000
SUBCONTRACT

Premises maintenance & utilities 2000 p/m 10,000

Equipment rental 2,000

Security services 7 75 p/m 2,625

Cleaning services 2 50 p/m 500

Public information production costs 10,000
sub-total 25,125
DESCRIPTION Amount Unit Cost Total Cost (Three months)
PROCUREMENT
Office furniture/equipment 10,000

Equipment maintenance, spare parts 750 p/m 3,750

Computers 15 1,000 15,000

Communications equipment 3,000

Phone lines and services + scratch cards 5,000

Vehicles 5 17,000 85,000

Vehicles maintenance, fuel, insurance, spare parts 10,000

Stationary 4,000
sub-total 135,750
DESCRIPTION Amount Unit Cost Total Cost (Three months)
TRAINING

3 int'l consultants 1 wk capacity building 15,000

Planning conference/roundtable 15,000

Component sub-total 30,000

5% contingency and miscellaneous 40,770

PROJECT TOTAL 529,145