The Plan Liberia Acquaintance Meeting with the Leadership of the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) provided an opportunity for both institutions to formally introduce their leadership, strengthen mutual understanding, and explore areas of collaboration in promoting and protecting human rights in Liberia.

The acquaintance meeting represents an important opportunity for Plan Liberia and the INCHR to establish a stronger working relationship and explore meaningful collaboration in advancing human rights, child protection, inclusion, and community development in Liberia.

The engagement will also provide a foundation for sustained institutional dialogue and partnerships that can contribute to the protection and promotion of human rights across the country.

STATEMENT OF OUTCOME OF THE INCHR ENGAGEMENTS WITH UNICEF

The Acting Chairperson of the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR), Cllr. Mohammed Eldust Fahnbulleh, together with members of the Commission’s leadership, held engagement with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) as part of the Commission’s ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration and deepen its engagement with development partners.

The meeting with UNICEF provided an opportunity for the Commission and UNICEF to discuss the status of outstanding accountability and reporting requirements relating to previous support provided for children’s rights programming, including activities of the Children’s Parliament and the production of child rights awareness materials.

The Acting Chairperson expressed the Commission’s appreciation for UNICEF’s longstanding partnership and support to the INCHR and reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to addressing outstanding obligations in a timely and transparent manner.

The Commission outlined measures being undertaken by the new leadership to strengthen institutional accountability, financial management, documentation and reporting systems. The Commission further committed to engaging its Board on the outstanding matter and ensuring that an appropriate institutional pathway is established for its resolution.

UNICEF welcomed the Commission’s commitment to addressing the outstanding requirements and expressed its willingness to continue engaging with the INCHR in advancing the protection and promotion of children’s rights in Liberia.

UNICEF reaffirmed the importance of maintaining a constructive partnership.

The engagement was positive, with both institutions reaffirming their commitment to continued collaboration and support through the remainder of 2026. Discussions highlighted opportunities for continued cooperation in the areas of human rights protection, child rights, public awareness, community engagement and institutional strengthening.

Moving Forward

The engagements with UNICEF Liberia form part of the INCHR’s broader institutional reform and partner re-engagement agenda.

The Commission remains committed to rebuilding confidence, strengthening accountability and enhancing the quality of its engagement with development partners. The leadership recognizes that strong partnerships are essential to advancing the Commission’s mandate and ensuring that support provided by development partners translates into meaningful and sustainable benefits for rights holders across Liberia.

The INCHR looks forward to continued constructive engagement with UNICEF, and other development partners as the Commission strengthens its systems, improves program delivery and advances the protection and promotion of human rights in Liberia.

The Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR), under the leadership of its Acting Chairperson, has launched its first internal learning session as part of its ongoing institutional reform agenda.

The initiative aims to strengthen staff capacity, improve professionalism, productivity, accountability, and service delivery. Beginning with weekly sessions every Friday, experts and professionals will provide practical knowledge on public service regulations, procurement, payroll, budgeting, financial management, reporting, and institutional compliance.

The Commission views continuous learning and professional development as essential to building a more efficient, accountable, and responsive institution capable of effectively fulfilling its human rights mandate