Opens Research Center in Bong
A non-governmental organization with its head office in central Liberia has officially opened a resource center for research purposes in Gbarnga, Bong County.
The center according to ForumCiv Liberia Country Manager, Asa Davis Chon is geared to giving opportunities to Civil society organizations, the student community, and the general public in the central region to capacitate them on issues that matter to them.
He disclosed that over time ForumCiv Liberia has observed the non-existence of a research center, especially for Civil Society Organizations within the region and as search, there was a need to create said a center in the community.
He described the research as one of the basic tools for any given organization and society while encouraging locus to take advantage of the opportunity.
“ Much of the work conducted by grantmakers and community organizations begins with information, potential recipient organizations, grantmaker colleagues both local and international, technical information related to philanthropy, organizational management, tax, and government regulations, and many related topics. A high-quality information collection tailored to your organization is essential in serving member/constituent organizations”, he said.
He made these remarks recently to our reporter in Gbarnga, Bong County in an exclusive interview.
He however disclosed that the organization in partnership with the National Civil Society Council of Liberia, the Bong Chapter has concluded a Knowledge Exchange Session on the Local Government Acts and the Land Rights Laws’ in Gbarnga, Bong County.
Mr. Asa David Chon, said the institution was established in 1995 by a Swedish organization and is currently operating with one hundred eight Swedish organizations with the vision to see and adjust sustainably and contribute to achieving and extending their lives positively.
He said since the establishment of the organization in Liberia it has been operating a program titled ‘sustainable ownership program’ with a focus to support Civil Society organizations that are based in the rural parts of Liberia in other to effectively participate in governance, promote democracy and human rights, and the management and sustainability of the environment.
Mr. Chon said the program is focusing on supporting Civil Society organizations, women, and youth, from rural communities in Bomi, Bong, and Grand Gedeh Counties.
According to Mr. Chon, ForumCiv’s active program that is currently in progress is titled “Our land a pathway to a sustainable ownership and used of Land by Women and youths” and has been in effect since January of this year and will be ending on December 31, 2025.
He said his entity signed a new grant agreement recently valued at 50.7 million Swedish Krona with the Embassy of Sweden near Monrovia to implement the program in Liberia.
ForumCiv Country Manager then named the training of females to become licensed Land surveyors, establishing programs for students from Cuttington University, CEPRES University, BCTC, and other institutions of learning to prepare them with the needed skills for the job market, and establishing a resource center that will be well equipped with computers, Internet, reading materials among other as focal areas the program intents.
Organized under the theme, “Promoting decentralization and inclusion through the 2018 Land Rights and Local Government Acts”, Mr. Chon said the only way Liberia can have sustainable change and development is when citizens are involved in the decision-making process of the Country.
He told our reporter that participants of the FORUMCIV Liberia Knowledge Exchange Session were drawn from the thirteen administrative districts of Bong County which included Chiefs, women, the Academia, and the Media among others.
ForumCiv is Swedish largest civil society organization that is working on advocacy and capacity building in Central America, south-east Asia, East, and West Africa, and Eastern Europe.
Reported by: Timothy R. Yoko
