(Monrovia, Liberia, September 29, 2026) — The Government of Liberia, and the United States Government through the Ministry of Health, in partnership with Catholic Relief Services (CRS), faith-based organizations and other development partners, have launched the Faith and Community Initiative (FCI) in Liberia.

The launch opened a three-day national co-creation workshop to develop a specific approach that would strengthen faith-based interventions which support the gaps in the Memorandum   of Understanding (MoU) related to Fait-Based and Community initiatives for improved health outcomes in line with the ARREST AGENDA and the six Areas of Corporation stipulated in the MoU.

The FCI, announced globally by the U.S. Government in August 2026, is part of the America First Global Health Strategy and is being implemented in 17 countries. It seeks to leverage the reach of faith-based and community organizations to complement national health systems and improve access to lifesaving health services.

Speaking at the launch, Dr. Catherine T. Cooper, Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Minister for Health Services, emphasized partnership, community ownership and sustainability.

“Today marks an important step in strengthening collaboration between the health sector, faith communities, local leaders, and the people we serve.”

Dr. Cooper said communities should be active partners in designing and delivering healthcare services, stressing that the Ministry of Health cannot achieve equitable healthcare alone.

“Health systems are stronger when communities are not only recipients of services, but active partners in designing, implementing, and evaluating these services.”

She said the initiative comes as Liberia continues to address challenges including maternal and child health, immunization, malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, sanitation and non-communicable diseases.

Dr. Cooper also urged faith and community leaders to help ensure accurate health information reaches households across Liberia and commended the U.S. Government and partners for supporting the initiative.

Jan Scislowicz, ESTH Officer and Foreign Assistance Lead at the U.S. Embassy near Monrovia, formally launched the initiative and welcomed participants to the three-day workshop.

“I am eager to learn from you all as we work together and come together with the interest of the Liberian people.”

He then declared the initiative formally launched.

Meanwhile, Glynnis Commings-John, CRS Liberia Country Representative, said the project provides an opportunity to strengthen existing partnerships by utilizing the trust and reach of faith communities.

“Today marks more than the introduction of a new initiative. It is the beginning of a collaborative effort to harness one of Liberia’s greatest strengths: the trust, reach, and influence of faith and community networks working hand in hand with government systems.”

Commings-John said challenges such as maternal and child mortality, malaria, tuberculosis, HIV and malnutrition require collective action.

“These challenges cannot be addressed by government alone, by donors alone, or by faith organizations alone. They require all of us working together.”

She said the proposed FCI model envisions three hubs, expected to include faith-based hospitals, 30 spokes comprising community health service points, and more than 750 churches and mosques working with government health structures.

The project is expected to support HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, maternal and child health, nutrition and primary healthcare interventions.

Commings-John stressed that FCI would align with Ministry of Health systems rather than create parallel structures, with emphasis on national ownership and sustainability.

“Lasting impact is achieved when investments strengthen national leadership and national ownership.”

She said the three-day workshop is intended to allow stakeholders to validate priorities, agree on implementation and governance mechanisms, and develop sustainability pathways.

“The objective is not to present a finished program. The objective is to build the program together.”

Also speaking, Sheikh Idrissa Swaray, Executive Director of Muslim Aid Liberia, welcomed the initiative and called for continued involvement of faith-based organizations in national health programs.

“I want to say that initiatives like this should always have faith-based organizations involved.”

He expressed appreciation to the U.S. Government, Ministry of Health, CRS and other partners for their continued collaboration.

The launch brought together representatives of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, U.S. Embassy, CRS-HQ and Liberia office, World Vision, Office of the Archbishop of Monrovia, faith-based organizations, civil society, community organizations and development partners.

The three-day co-creation workshop is expected to develop a country-specific framework for implementing the Faith and Community Initiative while strengthening community engagement, coordination and sustainability within Liberia’s health system.