MRU Conference: Working in Partnership to Combat Drugs and Substance  Abuse in Liberia and Sierra Leone

Partner organizations from Civil Peace Service, Mano River (CPS- MRU) will begin a partners’ conference from October 28 to November 1, 2024, in Monrovia, Liberia.

The Civil Peace Service Liberia is a network of seven (7) Civil Society Organizations with peace building and development as the common thread of their engagements. The Mano River Conference is an annual partnership meeting between Bread for the World partners in Liberia and Sierra Leone. The Bread for the World CPS is a German government-funded organization, that focuses on civil conflict resolution. The conference  will be held under the theme: “Working in Partnership to Combat Drugs and Substance Abuse in Liberia and Sierra Leone, to Build Resilient Communities in the Mano River Union.”   Over 70 partners from 18 civil society organizations from Liberia and Sierra Leone, and national and international partners are expected to attend the conference.

A formal opening takes place on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, with a flag procession, official welcome statement and overview of the conference by Decontee E. George, CPS Liberia Network Coordinator, keynote address and remarks from special personalities including Madam Sybille Frideres, Bread for the World –  Berlin, representatives from AGIAMONDO, and the German Embassy in Monrovia, CPS National Coordinators from Sierra Leone and the New Africa Research and Development Agency,  the Doyen of CPS Liberia Network.  

 During the first session of the conference, CPS partners will discuss country context analysis, and make presentations on  Drugs and Substance abuse by CPS Sierra Leone and Liberia Coordinators, hold workgroup discussions on the context analysis, and discussions on how partner organizations are meandering their way given the context.

 Also during the conference, a panel/fishbowl discussion on drugs and substance abuse—facts, experiences, approaches, what can be done, and what has been done to help remedy the situation—will be held. Panelists are expected to come from the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), and CPS Liberia and Sierra Leone Networks.

 CPS partner organizations from Sierra Leone and Liberia will also hold discussions with Bread for the World Partners attending the conference. The conference ends on Thursday, October 31, 2024, with action planning on drugs and substance abuse and a presentation and discussion on the action plan.