MONROVIA, Liberia, December 9, 2015/APO (African Press Organization)/ —
The European Union (EU) Delegation to Liberia has announced the resumption of the ‘EU-Liberia Civil Society Structured Dialogue’ which the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease interrupted. The dialogue had been in full-swing between 2012 and 2014 to reach a mutual understanding and to build consensus on the main challenges Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) face in Liberia; and to help improve the effectiveness of their work.
Speaking at the opening session of the Annual General Assembly of the CSOs in Kakata, Margibi County on Tuesday, 8 December 2015, the EU Head of Delegation, Ambassador Tiina Intelmann also announced that the EU would launch next year a number of calls for proposals to help capacitate and empower the CSOs in continuation of its support to the civil sector in Liberia.
Ambassador Intelmann recounted that the EU currently funds numerous projects in Liberia that include direct and indirect involvement and capacitation of civil society, including decentralization, electoral support, forestry, health as well as education, in support of the Government’s Agenda for Transformation. She also added that 5 new grants with CSO are expected to be soon signed with several CSOs: two to promote human rights and good governance in the justice and security sectors and three focusing on basic health services and early recovery of Ebola affected areas.
Regarding the impending elections of the National Civil Society Council of Liberia, the EU Envoy encouraged the group to elect a leadership reflective of inclusive participation, including women and youth and to exemplify accountability, transparency and integrity of its operations and finances, a way of contributing to the good governance of the country.
