The Accountability Lab has been operating in Liberia for several years, providing civic education to citizens and equipping them with the skills and tools to make their voices heard.  These networks can be deployed to ensure that the current outbreak of the virus is contained and also to bolster the long-term efforts necessary to develop strong systems to handle future humanitarian crises.

Accountability Film School: In association with the Liberia Film Institute, the Accountability Lab has administered several Accountability Film Schools.  Film has tremendous power to entertain, educate, and reach a large segment of Liberian society.  The production of at least ten Ebola awareness films (developed by Liberian youth), screened at a film festival, and distributed around the country can have a major impact on eradicating stigma and changing behavior.  Both dramas and documentaries will be composed by film school students.

Comic Book Series: Comic books provide a fun and engaging way to receive an important message.  A series of color comic books employing a character that youth can relate to, navigating the challenges of a society newly devastated by Ebola, can have a significant impact on educating youth and their parents regarding the dangers of Ebola.  Through images, comics can deploy an important message to those who are not literate, have weak reading skills, or would not be interested in consuming longer text-based narratives.

Art Murals: The Accountability Lab has teamed with the Liberia Visual Arts Academy to offer an Accountability Arts School and produce informative mural across Monrovia.  Murals can attract the attention of large numbers of Liberians, providing clear and concise messages about how to stay safe in the current environment that is easily consumed by a wide cross-section of society.

Daily Talk News Kiosks: Many Liberians do not have the financial ability to purchase newspapers or consume media that is dependent on electronic connections.  Since 2003, the Daily Talk, a chalkboard news outlet positioned at a very busy Liberian intersection has provided Liberians with core news headlines, free of charge. The Daily Talk has played a pivotal role in informing Liberians of the latest news regarding the spread of the Ebola virus and efforts to combat it.  Deployed to additional sites in Monrovia and other urban communities, a collective of Daily Talks, curated by a network of local citizen journalists, can have a dramatic impact on fostering the behavior change and spreading the knowledge needed to help defeat Ebola.

Hip-co Accountability Network & Ebola Awareness Music Campaign: The Accountability Lab has worked with Liberian musicians through its Hip-co Accountability Network to advocate for gender equality and to combat corruption.  Members of the Network have collaborated with an array of popular musicians to record a song and film an accompanying video that highlights the challenges posed by Ebola and encourages Liberians to maintain unity in the face of adversity.  Their stature and reach in Liberian society can be used through radio, performances, and marketing materials to ensure that Ebola awareness messages reach the widest possible audience.

Community Mediation Teams: Ebola has delivered a severe psychological blow to Liberians.  The strain and stress associated with living under the disease has led to a significant increase in community disputes.  West Point in particular, which was subject to a community-wide quarantine for over a week, has witnessed a major rise in disputes due to perceived injustices around the delivery of food aid and other activities arising from the spread of Ebola. Trained community mediators can impart knowledge on Ebola, strengthen community cohesion, and resolve disputes that threaten social stability.  They also provide a structure that will help respond to and alleviate future crises.

* In Liberian English, Knowmore refers to a well educated person.  LIB is slang for Liberia.