Liberia

Linus Neufville is a public health and monitoring and evaluation professional with over nine years of experience in nonprofit programming and data systems management. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health from William V. S. Tubman University, a Postgraduate Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation from the Development Dimensions Africa School of Distance Learning, and a Master’s degree in Healthcare Management from UNICAF University of Zambia. Linus is a champion of women’s rights and empowerment through sexual, reproductive health, and rights (SRHR) programming by showcasing evidence-based results for programmatic and policy change. His advocacy for continuous SRHR/family planning (FP) services contributed to an increase of 69.1% rate of FP needs met among married women and a decrease of 18.9% rate of teenage pregnancy among adolescents in Maryland County. Presently, the Reproductive Health and Monitoring and Evaluation Program Manager at Partners In Health. He facilitated advocacy and led the coordination, planning, and implementation of SRHR/FP programs that enhanced women’s services, increasing their confidence in social change. These advocacies have secured about $500,000.00 U. S. dollars to support ongoing SRHR/FP programs effort in 2023. He also implemented an integrated maternal and child health (MCH) outreach program that helps reach adolescents, pregnant women, and children in remote sites, increasing access to MCH services and has led to a 67% reduction in maternal mortality from 2018 to 2022. With these experiences gained and passion for promoting women’s rights and empowerment, Linus seeks to achieve social impact by reducing health inequality in marginalized communities.

Weamie Tahn is a graduate of a master’s degree program in Finance at the Cuttington University School of Graduate and Professional Studies in Liberia. He is a grant management and compliance professional with ten years of experience. He currently works for Partners in Health (PIH), an international nonprofit organization that provides life-saving health care to people in the Global South. As Grants and Compliance Manager, he has spent the last four years helping the Ministry of Health improve the health system in Liberia by managing more than ten public sector grants. He promotes and ensures compliance with internal policies and donor regulations. Previously, he has worked for various international organizations such as Development Alternative Inc. (DAI), Mercy Corps, and Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) as Senior Grants Officer, Subawards & Compliance Officer, and Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, respectively. Weamie is passionate about mentoring and building capacity for grants management for nonprofits and civil society organizations so that their projects benefit historically marginalized communities. He has found his professional calling in training, developing, and managing long-term, impact-oriented projects.

Theophilus Saah Kiah, I is a Career Development Coach, as well as a development scholar and researcher. He is the founder and Executive Director of Career Development and Life Coaching Inc. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Liberia and is a senior student at a Master of Public Health degree at the Cuttington Graduate School with a specialty in Epidemiology. Theophilus has also obtained post-graduate diplomas and certificates in monitoring and evaluation, and project management. He is currently studying a Master’s program in Development Management at Ruhr University in Germany. Theophilus has over nine years of professional working experience in the non-profit sector with both local and international organizations in Liberia. He has a solid experience in monitoring and evaluation, qualitative and quantitative research, project management, strategic planning, and human and institutional capacity development. He has worked on projects funded and implemented by the following institutions: Action Against Hunger, FHI360, UNDP, USAID, EDUcare, Academic Consortium to Combat Ebola in Liberia. Over the years, Theophilus has developed skills in research, event and program planning, facilitating project activities, community mobilization, stakeholder engagement, system thinking and approach, and team building for sustainable impact. Theophilus is interested in developing a concept for effective project monitoring and evaluation that could impact the sustainability of donor funded projects in developing countries. He is also interested in youth and institutional development, local governance, and knowledge management.

Janice has five years of experience in the nonprofit, media, and governmental sectors, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Stella Maris Polytechnic in Liberia. While studying for her college degree, she volunteered with Population Services International as a Youth Coordinator where she managed a radio show on sexual reproductive health, and planned outreach activities for young people. Janice has developed youth related brochures and IECs materials for several groups including UNICEF and UNAIDS. Her advocacy has progressed to include programs in girls’ rights, youth and gender empowerment, and poverty reduction. Through these experiences, she developed strong research, leadership, and report writing skills. Janice enjoys focusing on the topics of economic reform and population need. She has a strong passion for creative arts and hopes to one day use it as a unifying tool for social justice.

Host Organization: Worldwatch Institute

Fellow’s Role at Worldwatch Institute
Janice will serve as Research Assistant to the President. In this position she will be primarily responsible for assisting in research by the President in three areas of substance: Gender, reproductive health and population, Sustainable agriculture and food production and Climate change and sustainable energy for all. Additionally she will aid various Worldwatch teams seeking to: Improve our outreach on research results for optimum impact in our mission of promoting a rapid transition to sustainable societies that meet human needs Develop and expand networks of likeminded organizations around the world.

Luther has three years of experience in the nonprofit sector, and earned a Bachelor’s of Arts in Sociology from the African Methodist Episcopal University in Liberia. In his most recent capacity at iLab Liberia as the Director of Training, Luther and his team have provided more than 1,250 Liberians the opportunity to use iLab’s computer lab and gain new technology skills. Previously, Luther worked as Training Director of Ushahidi Liberia, a nonprofit tech camp that specializes in developing free and open source software for information collection, visualization and interactive mapping. Luther served as an exemplary leader in the Monrovia crisis, and partnered with the United Nations, the Government of Liberia, NGO’s and civil society on using technology to map conflict and instability in Liberia. Luther is passionate about using technology for social good, particularly in the areas of using Crisis Mapping Technologies (Ushahidi, Crowdmap, SwiftRiver, basic GIS) to prevent conflict.

Host Organization: Creative Associates International

Role at Host Organization: Luther will provide support to the Technology for Development (T4D) unit in the Cross-Functional Group (CFG), which is responsible for incubating new ideas of how to use technology interventions. He will also work as a development agency contractor by learning about the latest in information and communication technologies for development and contributing innovative ideas that have potential for funding.

Lawrence received a BA in Human Resource Management from Wisconsin International University College in Ghana, as well as certificates of training in: securities trading; banking; analytical problem solving; organizational leadership; team playing and report writing; public speaking and presentation skills; international youth leadership; HIV/AIDS; conflict management and mediation; peace building; and a peace ambassador. He most recently worked as the Assistant Project Coordinator of the Business Start-Up Center Monrovia (BSC). Previously, he served as Electoral Commissioner for the Liberian Student Association-Ghana, National Coordinator for the World Youth Spirit Council, Project Director for the Rotaract Club of Wisconsin, and a volunteer for Africa Peace’s HIV/AIDS Education & Peace Initiative in Benin. He also founded and directed Liberian Youth for Peace & Development (LIRYPAD), and worked as a teacher, dean, and HR personnel for community schools in Ghana.

Host Organization: Accountability Lab

Role at Host Organization: Lawrence will serve as coordinator for Accountability Lab for its activities in West Africa, conducting research, developing project ideas, building relevant networks, and conducting outreach.