Liberia: Child Fund Liberia institutes new measures
By: Augustine N. Myers – Authorities at Child Fund International, an international Non-Governmental Organization operating in Liberia have instituted new measures aimed at ensuring more efficient service delivery.
The new measures among other things include organizational staff reshuffle and adjustments to meet up with productivity demands of Child Fund Liberia.
Child Fund Liberia Acting Program Director, Shannoh Kandah(L) speaks to the Press, while the Regional Director of Child Fund Int’l, Jumbe K. Sebunya(R), and the Acting National Director, Godfred M. Mwelwa(center) listened with interest
Child Fund Int’l Regional Director, Jumbe K. Sebunya (R), addressing the Press during his recent visit to Liberia, while the Acting National Director of Child Fund Liberia, Godfred M. Mwelwa (center), and the Acting Program Director, Shannoh Kandah (L) listened with interest
Child Fund Liberia Acting National Director, Godfred M. Mwelwa(center) speaks to the Press, while the Regional Director of Child Fund Int’l, Jumbe K. Sebunya(R), and the Acting Program Director, Shannoh Kandah(L) listened with interest
The new measures are part of future program approaches and operational philosophy, core accountability systems, sponsor relations and quality measures intended to propel the process of Change and Program Development.
A Process of Critical Reflection as described by the Organization, is a process of adapting culturally to the Entity’s Global Strategy with an appropriate structure and support teams to improve its programs.
Addressing the Press during a weeklong visit to Liberia, the Regional Director of Child Fund International for West, East and Southern Africa Region, Jumbe K. Sebunya, described his two week-visit to Liberia as critical with the aim of changing the direction of Child fund Liberia.
Mr. Sebunya disclosed that his weeklong stay in Liberia focused on working with the staff to improve the Organization’s Program for children, constructively reviewing the Child Fund’s operations in the country.
He also said his Organization has recommitted itself to serve the people of Liberia, specifically Liberian children with a goal of being effective in its services.
The Regional Director of Child Fund International said at present the Organization is taking a relook of program and both local and international partnership to foster better engagement with them.
He further said his visit to Liberia coincided with the 75th Anniversary of Child Fund and the celebrations were been used for a global reflection on all of its activities.
Mr. Sebunya pointed out that his visit to the country was also targeted in the direction of providing the necessary support to the Liberian staff to bridge the gap that exists in its activities in the country.
He noted that on-going transition at Child Fund Liberia is to influence positive change in leadership that will bring about productivity.
“Basically our critical reflection is focusing on how Child Fund can work with government and partners including local and international partners to provide support to its programs”, Mr. Sebunya stressed.
He said for the past ten years, Child fund Liberia has been working in different sectors, especially building infrastructures, working with communities in responding to emergency and post emergency in five of the 15 political sub- divisions of Liberia.
For his part, the Acting National Director of Child Fund Liberia, Godfrey M. Mwelwa said the new change in the Organization’s structure is basically to create more greater impact in the communities and identify their needs.
Mr. Mwelwa asserted that the new strategy direction the Organization is about to embark on will try to identify the needs on the ground as it relates to the scope of operation.
The Acting National Director further disclosed that the period of reflection will take into consideration new strategy direction of Child Fund Liberia Programs that intend to provide a space where gaps can be indentified and bridged.
Also speaking, the Acting Program Director, Shannoh Kandah said that the entity has recommitted itself in advancing the issues surrounding children in Liberia.
Mr. Kandah said the Organization has participated in several programs including the reintegration of Child Soldiers, catering to Ivorian refugees in Nimbi as well as the reintegration of Sierra Leonean refugees.
He also named the Global Malaria Initiatives and the distribution of 88,750 shoes in Liberia’s Educational Program as some of the Organization’s activities.
Mr. Kandah told news men that the educational program cut across in all of their activities in Liberia, noting that Child Fund Liberia is building educational infrastructures in its operational areas.
“We also support UNICEF Child Friendly School activities”, Mr. Kandah added.
He re-emphasized the need for local partnership as they carry on their work in Liberia with the goal of supporting Liberian kids.
Child Fund Liberia started operations in the Country in December of 2003, two months after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of Liberia.
The National Office which responded promptly and positively to funding opportunities from donors, succeeded in establishing strong presence in six counties Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Cape Mount, Montserrado and Lofa and that it also initiated diverse activities addressing the needs and rights of children.
Child Fund Liberia heavily subsidized donor projects and created an infrastructure of six offices in the counties with more than 230 local staff and 6 expatriates at the time.
