Beyond Aid: What Real Partnership Looks Like in Liberia
In Liberia, many people affected by neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) still struggle to access the care they need. The TRANSFORM project is helping change that by strengthening the health system and making care more accessible and inclusive. To see this work firsthand, Lee-Anne, our Director of Finance & Operations at Effect Hope, visited Liberia to assess local systems, ensure resources are used effectively, and explore whether future finance team visits could support ongoing efforts. What she experienced on the ground challenged her assumptions in unexpected ways. The reflections that follow are shared from Lee-Anne’s point of view.
Before traveling to Liberia, I thought I fully understood the work we do there.
I had read the reports, sat in strategy meetings, and knew the language: “we partner with the Ministry of Health.” But I now realize I didn’t truly understand what partnership looked like — not until I experienced it firsthand.
What I expected was structure, accountability, and perhaps a more transactional relationship. What I found was something far more profound: shared leadership, local ownership, and deep commitment. In every meeting, the room was full of Liberian decision-makers — people leading projects, solving challenges, and building the systems their country needs. Our role wasn’t focused on leading, but rather on supporting. We bring funding and technical expertise, but they bring the vision — and the execution. That shift in mindset was the most important takeaway. We’re not rescuers. We don’t just show up and deliver a quick fix. We’re co-builders — investing in systems, not just solutions. When donors give to this work, they’re not just funding programs. They’re helping create long-term infrastructure that Liberian leaders can sustain and grow for the future.
I also learned how much we take for granted. In Canada, finance is digital, fast, and automated. In Liberia, everything is manual. Receipts are stapled. Files are physical. Couriers are expensive. Electricity is unreliable. The internet is a luxury. And yet, the work gets done — with care, accuracy, and great passion.
It’s not always efficient, but it’s always intentional.
And that’s the heart of what partnership really looks like: meeting people where they are, not where we expect them to be. Letting go of assumptions. And trusting local teams to lead — because they already are.
Going to Liberia wasn’t just about auditing systems or checking boxes. It was about seeing with new eyes. And now that I have, I can say this with confidence: the impact is real, the processes are strong, and our partnership is exactly what it should be — human, humble, and built to last.
