Monrovia – A memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (NCJPC) and National Civil Society of Liberia (NCSCL) aimed at holding government accountable and responsive to the needs of its people.
Report by Bettie K. Johnson-Mbayo, [email protected]
The principle accordingly will create room in seeing to it that the government of Liberia captures the transformational principles of agenda 2030 from a perspective of the Laudato si.
Laudato si is a papal letter issued by Pope Francis on common home-the earth in terms of its preservation for future generations.
The event, which also involved the signing of the MOU, brought together civil society organizations. Rev. Fr. McDonald Nah, Director of NCJPC, signed on behalf of the commission and Madam Frances Greaves signed on behalf of the civil society.
Both of them promised to accelerate advocacy aimed at driving the social accountability for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs.
The MOU is to provide support for the engagement for formal and informal coalition meetings at national and local levels.
The NCJPC will coordinate with the NCSCL to plan and organize regular and consultative meetings with government’s focal point at national and local levels as well as provide financial assistance and contribution for activities specifically and exclusively agreed upon in joint resolution as needs of importance.
Workshops, research, launch, local travel communication, reports will be organized by NCJPC.
The NCJPC is also charged with the responsibility to provide support to five county councils of NCSCL, namely; Grand Bassa, Bomi, Bong, Nimba and Maryland Counties.
As for the civil society, it will map CSOs working on SDGs based on specific thematic areas and share with JPC. It will also identify government’s focal point on SDGs at national and local level for further engagement and dialogue.
The two organizations will engage government to prioritize SDGs in the development plan, show commitment, commit to working with CSOs and use the SDGs to inform new policies.
Rev.Nah said the action of the church to engage the civil society as a partner is in fulfillment of the Pope dream of seeing the SDG as an important sign of hope that will only come if non- state actor leads the dialogue for the implementation of such goal.
He said the church has over the years work in charity and advocacy but Liberians were still poor and suffering.
For this, he said the church sees the engagement with the people as important to enable the people to hold their leaders accountable by asking question and telling them what they want.
Meanwhile, Madam Greave said CSO have been working for the success of the SDGs, and the collaboration with the Catholic Church they hope the work will get Liberians involved throughout this engagement.