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How can the youth contribute to the fight against corruption and its negative impact on society?

For those who have not been to Liberia, their first encounter with an act of corruption is likely to be at the international airport when a service personnel starts asking for a 'small thing' or a police officer asks for 'cold water' (both phrases refer to a bribe). As dangerous as it is, corruption has almost become the norm for public servants, entrenched in and gradually destroying Liberian society. This article discusses the state of corruption in Liberia and its ripple effects on various sectors of society. Moreover, it emphasizes the crucial role of youth in combating corruption and fostering [...]

2023-09-19T13:02:16+00:0019th September 2023|

Liberia’s complex path to lasting peace

Liberia, situated on West Africa's coast, claims the distinction of being Sub-Saharan Africa's oldest republic. Established in 1821 by freed American slaves through the American Colonization Society, it became independent in 1847. For 102 years, from 1878 to 1980, Liberia was governed by the True Whig Party, operating under a single-party system. Unfortunately, this era was defined by underdevelopment, widespread corruption, and the mismanagement of precious natural resources. A significant turning point emerged on April 12, 1980, when the People's Redemption Council (PRC), descendants of the military, orchestrated a brutal coup that thrust Liberia into an internal maelstrom. Tribal tensions [...]

2023-08-18T12:41:07+00:0018th August 2023|

Mobilizing Civic Voter Education in Liberia

According to the National Elections Commission (NEC), Liberia’s current number of first-time voters is just over 20 percent. This figure demonstrates the need to prioritize civic voter education, especially for first-time voters in rural communities. On 21-22 June, Accountability Lab Liberia hosted a training session to build the civic and voter education capacity of 30 journalists and leaders of youth-led organizations from Counties including Bong, Grand Bassa, Lofa, Margibi Montserrado, and Nimba. The training session aimed to equip the participants with skills to lead creative civic engagement campaigns and build working relationships for cross-collaboration, learning, and advocacy. The training focused [...]

2023-10-02T19:03:44+00:0017th August 2023|

Music as a Catalyst – Amplifying Underrepresented Voices

By Kibo Ngowi Art is a powerful tool for connecting people and shining a light on important social issues, and promoting equity and representation. This is an idea that runs right through the Lab’s Arts for Change programming. With music in particular, the Lab has created a network of musicians making socially conscious music across the African continent, creating sustainable models for change that integrate values and impact into the fabric of their work.  Two people who played an instrumental role in this process are the musician MI Abaga and the activist Nora Rahimian. These two talented changemakers have recognized [...]

2023-06-27T09:38:29+00:0027th June 2023|

GOL, UNDP Launch Growth Accelerator Liberia Phase III Applications

MONROVIA – It was a room filled with optimism and sense of accomplishment when the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Ministry of Commerce launched phase III of the Growth Accelerator project. The Growth Accelerator Liberia is a business and agricultural cooperative accelerator, targeting impactful and innovative ventures and cooperatives in Liberia. It assists post-revenue businesses and cooperatives in scaling and growing with a combination of co-financing grants, mentorship, and technical assistance. It is a UNDP and Government of Liberia initiative under the Livelihood and Employment Creation project implemented by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. As the third [...]

2023-05-25T09:45:15+00:0025th May 2023|

Five Public Servants Win Accountability Lab Integrity Icons Awards

Accountability Lab in its commitment to promote integrity in Liberia’s public service sector has awarded five public servants the Integrity Icons of the Year 2022. The Integrity Icon Awards is an annual event that recognizes and awards honest public servants who display integrity on their job. This year marks the eighth edition of the Integrity Icon which is an eight-month-long program that focuses on a rigorous campaign to select dedicated individuals who are working in the public sector. The campaign focuses on 35 integrity icons in different sections, ranging from health, education, security, engineers, judiciary, including the media. The recipients [...]

2022-12-14T22:06:51+00:0014th December 2022|

How the Government Silenced Accountability in Run up to Election

By Tina S. Mehnpaine with New Narratives Three months after the government raced an act through the Legislature overhauling the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, Liberia’s independent corruption watchdog has almost ceased functioning, all but ending scrutiny of government corruption in the runup to next year’s election. A source inside the Commission, who requested anonymity for fear of losing their job, said prosecutions have been stalled because of the changes that included the firing of all staff including chairperson Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin as the Weah administration “concentrates on the 2023 elections.” This week’s decision by the Supreme Court to halt some [...]

2022-11-30T23:33:17+00:005th November 2022|

Five Things We’re Doing To Fight Back Against Closing Civic Space In West Africa

By Kibo Ngowi West Africa is a rich and diverse part of the world-spanning 16 countries and boasting an estimated population of close to 400 million people. Accountability Lab has deep roots in the region, having established our second network Lab in Liberia back in 2013, only a year after the organization’s birth in Nepal. We’ve since opened more Labs in Niger, Nigeria and Mali and with the support of Observatório da Democracia e Governança we’ve rolled out our Virtual Incubator program in Guinea-Bissau as well. These efforts are a response to the governance and stability challenges in the region [...]

2022-07-06T11:02:58+00:004th July 2022|

UNDP Launches Cohort Two of its Growth Accelerator Project

MONROVIA – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has for the second year launched the second phase of its Growth Accelerator project with an aim to support impactful Liberian entrepreneurs to scale up their ventures through access to technical assistance, mentorship, and co-financing of up to US$40,000. This program is being implemented with policy support from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry along with iCampus Liberia and Accountability Lab Liberia. The Growth Accelerator Liberia is a UNDP and Government of Liberia initiative under the Livelihood & Employment Creation project implemented by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. The project was launched [...]

2022-07-16T06:08:06+00:003rd June 2022|

USAID Launches Program to Support CSOs for the Benefit of All Liberians

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) launched a new Civil Society Activity that will support stronger collaboration between civil society organizations (CSOs), the Government of Liberia, and local Liberians to advocate for citizen-driven reforms. Partnering with Naymote Partners for Democratic Development, the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), and Accountability Lab Liberia, the Civil Society Activity will seize opportunities for positive change through civil society advocacy on issues that Liberians themselves identify as priorities. Steve Terrevecchia, from USAID’s implementing partner on this program, Development Alternatives Incorporated, highlighted the importance of CSOs in uncovering the root causes of [...]

2022-04-08T07:19:41+00:0028th February 2022|
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