At the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), the Kids’ Educational Engagement Project (KEEP Liberia) convened a high‑level dialogue spotlighting the role of national, community‑rooted organizations in shaping policy, strengthening systems, and advancing girls’ education across Liberia.
The event, “Community‑Rooted Leadership: How National Organizations Shape Policy, Systems, and Girls’ Education,” brought together government leaders, donors, and African education advocates to examine what becomes possible when local organizations are not just implementers, but co‑architects of national change.
Mrs. Julia K. Sandiman Gbeyai, Executive Director of the Center of Excellence for Curriculum Development and Textbook Research at the Ministry of Education, opened the program by underscoring the importance of government–CSO partnerships. She highlighted how organizations like KEEP bridge the gap between policy and practice, strengthen local content, deepen community engagement, and provide real‑time insight into system realities.
Hon. Atty. Laura Golokeh, Deputy Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, emphasized the urgency of gender‑responsive education. She pointed to the Ministry’s development of a national Girls’ Education Scorecard and called for co‑creation, flexible funding, and alignment with national priorities to ensure girls- especially those in rural communities and those with disabilities- can learn and thrive.
Representing the philanthropic community, Margretta Supuwood of the Mortensen Family Foundation explained why the foundation invests in KEEP: because the organization is trusted, grounded, community‑centered, and consistent. She noted that risk is not inherent to local organizations and that accountability- not size- is what matters.
Sibabalwe Mona of African Collaborative, another funder organization, highlighted a global shift from control to trust in philanthropy, stressing that impact multiplies when donors amplify African‑led solutions rather than define them. Emily Gumba of FAWE added lessons on sustainable scale, emphasizing the need to embed programs into national systems, secure government funding, and ensure community voices shape design.
Dr. Deddeh Supuwood, KEEP Board Member, grounded the discussion in KEEP’s national footprint and community trust, pointing to the organization’s production of local books and its commitment to transparency, accountability, and inclusive collaboration.
Liberia’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Ambassador Lewis Brown, delivered a strong call to action, urging greater support for national organizations that have demonstrated impact, accountability, and transparency. He emphasized that Liberia’s progress depends on strengthening institutions closest to communities and most trusted by them.
The event affirmed KEEP Liberia’s growing role as a national partner in education and systems change. As Founder and CEO Brenda Brewer Moore noted, “When communities lead, systems change.”
