MONROVIA – The Center for Media Studies and Peacebuilding (CEMESP) has secured a €20,000 grant from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to launch a new initiative aimed at strengthening press freedom, advancing women’s digital rights, and promoting accountability governance in Liberia.
The agreement was signed in August by CEMESP Executive Director Malcolm W. Joseph and Dutch Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Jeroen Verheul.
Under the project, CEMESP will:
- Train 50 female journalists and civil society activists in digital literacy, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.
- Train 60 youth and media “accountability champions” in fact-checking and the ethical use of AI.
- Convene a Women’s Digital Rights Policy Forum in Monrovia to push for online safety, privacy protections, and legal reforms on digital rights.
The initiative kicked off on September 19–20 in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, with a two-day digital rights training for women journalists and activists, equipping participants with tools to safely navigate the digital space while defending press freedom and women’s rights.
“This partnership marks an important milestone in our ongoing efforts to strengthen press freedom, safeguard women’s digital rights, and promote accountability governance in Liberia,” Joseph said. “By empowering journalists, civil society, and young accountability champions, we are building a more resilient democratic society where citizens’ voices are protected both offline and online.”
CEMESP reaffirmed its commitment to advancing freedom of expression, media development, and transparent governance.
Founded as Liberia’s leading media development and advocacy institution, CEMESP has long championed access to information and press freedom as pillars of democracy.
