GASD/INFOQUEST Release Independent Impact Evaluation Analysis on Liberia's Substance Abuse National Response January 2024-June 2025

The Independent Impact Evaluation Analysis is raising urgent questions about how Multi-Sectoral Steering Committee has handled Liberia’s escalating drug crisis, despite more than $1.4 million in public funds allocated to key institutions. Conducted by Global Action for Sustainable Development in partnership with Infoquest, the report reviews efforts from January 2024 to June 2025 following President Joseph Boakai’s declaration of substance abuse as a national public health emergency. While the government rolled out prevention campaigns, law enforcement training, and rehabilitation programs through agencies like the Ministry of Health and the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, the findings suggest that progress on paper may not reflect real impact on the ground.

The report points to deeper structural problems that could be undermining the entire response, including weak coordination, poor data systems, and limited accountability in how funds are tracked and reported. It also highlights the exclusion of civil society from key decision-making processes, raising concerns about transparency and public trust. In a striking recommendation, the evaluation calls for the dissolution of the MSSC and the creation of a new national coordinating body under the presidency, alongside a full audit by the General Auditing Commission. The message is clear: without urgent reform, Liberia risks losing ground in the fight against drug abuse at a time when the crisis demands stronger, more coordinated leadership.

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