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Southern Liberia is one of the poorest parts of the world

We’ve launched a 3-year basic income program in Maryland County, Liberia that aims to bring every adult above the extreme poverty line. Today, over 80% of Maryland’s ~175k residents live below a dollar a day, unable to meet their basic needs or build toward a new future.

Through mobile money technology, over 8,000 people in 65 villages have already begun receiving monthly transfers. To make this possible, we helped build 10 new cell towers, bringing network for the first time to over 2,400 adults across 21 villages.

With your support, we can reach thousands more – and demonstrate the impact cash transfers can have when done at scale.

 

Residents receive monthly transfers for 3 years to invest in what they need most.

Frequently Asked Questions

+How can I donate a basic income?

By giving $40/month, you can lift one person above the extreme poverty line at our current monthly transfer size.

In addition to this UBI program in Liberia, we’re currently running basic income programs in some of the poorest parts of Kenya and Malawi. Basic income donations will be allocated across these programs where needed most.

+Why launch a UBI program in Maryland?

Liberia is the fourth poorest country in the world and in Maryland County – which takes its name from American colonists who arrived in 1834 – more than half of adults live in extreme poverty. The region has among the world’s highest rates of out-of-school children, malnutrition, food insecurity, and youth unemployment.

It’s also remarkably isolated from aid – it takes 3-5 days to drive 300 miles of unpaved road from Liberia’s capital in the half-a-year-long rainy season, and most of the 212 communities in Maryland do not have cell service.

To power cash delivery via mobile money transfer, we partnered with Liberia’s main telecom provider to build 10 new cell towers and connect tens of thousands of residents to cell service and banking technology for the first time.

+Why are households funded for 3 years?

Based on findings from our other guaranteed income programs, we believe multiple years of reliable income will provide households a chance to meet their basic needs, stabilize their finances, and invest in income-generating projects.

+Can I make a one-time donation?

If you want to make a one-time donation, you can support people in poverty across our programs here. For further questions, email us at [email protected].