The Center for Media Studies and Peacebuilding (CEMESP) has been awarded a grant of €20,000 (twenty thousand Euros) by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to enhance press freedom, women’s digital rights and accountability. The project is titled, “Enhancing Press Freedom, Women’s Digital Rights and Accountability Governance in Liberia”.
The grant agreement was formally signed in late August 2025 between CEMESP’s Executive Director, Malcolm W. Joseph, and His Excellency Jeroen Verheul, Ambassador of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Ghana.
Through this initiative, CEMESP will train 50 female journalists and civil society activists on digital literacy, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. It will also train 60 accountability champions from youth groups and the media in fact-checking and the responsible use of AI. CEMESP will further convene a women’s digital rights policy forum in Monrovia, bringing together multiple stakeholders to discuss online safety, privacy, and the need for digital rights law reform in Liberia.
The project officially commenced with a two-day Digital Rights Training for Women Journalists and Activists, held September 19–20, 2025, in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County. The training equipped participants with critical skills to safely navigate the digital space while championing press freedom and women’s rights.
Speaking on the significance of the project, CEMESP Executive Director, Malcolm Joseph, expressed appreciation to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its support.
“This partnership marks an important milestone in our on-going efforts to strengthen press freedom, safeguard women’s digital rights, and promote accountability governance in Liberia. 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,” he stated.
CEMESP reaffirmed its commitment to promoting freedom of expression, media development, and democratic accountability in Liberia.
The Center for Media Studies and Peacebuilding (CEMESP) is one of Liberia’s premier media development and advocacy institution, dedicated to advancing press freedom, access to information, and good governance.