Organizational Overview

Sawabenu, meaning "the law exists" in the Vai language spoken in western Liberia, is a local non-governmental organization (NGO) established in 2023 by former staff members of the Carter Center's Rule of Law (RoL) Program. The organization's creation was driven by a strong commitment to localize and continue the rule of law programming in Liberia following the departure of the Carter Center Rule of Law (RoL) Program. With initial financial support from the Embassy of Sweden, the Carter Center has played an advisory role in guiding Sawabenu through its foundational stages. The long-term goal for Sawabenu is to develop into an independent, fully functional organization that will fill the gap left by the Carter Center RoL Program, ensuring continuity in access to justice programming and strengthening the rule of law across Liberia.

 

The inception of Sawabenu stemmed from proactive measures taken by the local Carter Center's Rule of Law team when the program’s closure was announced in mid-2022. Recognizing the potential loss of crucial legal support and advocacy, the program staff-initiated discussions on ways to sustain the work locally. Encouraged by the Carter Center, they organized multiple meetings, formed working committees, and embarked on a structured planning process to establish a successor organization. Through a collaborative effort, Sawabenu was selected from a list of proposed names, reflecting the organization's core mission of upholding justice and the rule of law. This transition involved comprehensive strategic planning, organizational capacity support for program and financial management to ensure that the new entity operates effectively, continuing to deliver critical legal support and advocacy efforts previously spearheaded by the Carter Center RoL Program.

 

Significant progress has been made in operationalizing Sawabenu, with a robust leadership and staffing process successfully completed. The organization recruited five key staff through, filling the positions of Executive Director, Program Officer, Administrative and Finance Officer, Compliance Officer, and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Officer. A Board of Directors has also been established to provide strategic oversight and direction. As a non-profit organization, Sawabenu is dedicated to advancing access to justice in Liberia, both at the national and sub-national levels. The organization has been officially registered and certified by the Liberian government, signifying its compliance with national regulatory

frameworks and its legitimacy to operate within the country.