Several years of conflict in Liberia destroyed the civil service and ruined a merit-based system. The conflict allowed leaders to ignore standards and procedures and recruit unqualified individuals based on the patronage and largesse of various armed groups that exacerbated the civil conflict. This situation created an inefficient public service, adversely affecting performance and contributing to poor service delivery. Simply put, the civil service lacked the professional clout and institutional mechanisms needed to achieve the critical outcomes for social development.