Recapitalising Liberia: principles for providing grants and loans for microenterprise development by John Tucker, Tim Nourse, Rob Gailey, Dave Park and Stephan Bauman This article appeared in the May 2004 edition of Forced Migration.

In previous post-conflict contexts, donors and practitioners have successfully provided grants and loans to affected populations to spur economic growth and reconstruction, promote the sustainable return of refugees and rehabilitate ex-combatants. However, recent experience demonstrates that if the provision of grants and loans is not well-managed, well-intentioned donors and practitioners can undermine the development of a healthy credit culture, delay the transition from relief to development and harm communities in the long run. This note is offered as a practical tool
for donors and practitioners working in post-conflict situations to maximise the positive impact from both grant and loan programmes for microenterprise development. These principles, based on emerging best practices from development and post-conflict environments, are designed to promote rapid reconstruction while laying the foundation for economic
growth. This note was developed by donors and practitioners for use in Liberia, as a test case to see if cooperation
among stakeholders will lead to the proper use of grant and credit interventions.

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Forced Migration Review provides a forum for the regular exchange of practical experience, information and ideas between researchers, refugees and internally displaced people, and those who work with them. It is published in
English, Spanish and Arabic by the Refugee Studies Centre/University of Oxford in association with the Norwegian Refugee Council. The Spanish translation, Revista de Migraciones Forzadas, is produced by IDEI in Guatemala.