About Us

AIFO was founded in 1961, with its HQs in Bologna, Italy.

AIFO is an International Non-Governmental Organisation working in the field of International Health Co-operation and globally is an official partner of:

World Health Organization (WHO);
International Federation of Anti-leprosy Associations (ILEP);
International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC);
Disabled Peoples’ International (DPI);
People’s Health Movement (PHM);
Italian Global Health Watch (OISG);
Disability Research Resource Centre by FIRAH; Italian Network on Disability & Development (RIDS);
Italian Society of Leprologists (SIHAN).

AIFO is present in 12 countries in Africa, Asia, and South America, with 33 projects in support of people with disabilities through the adoption of the Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) strategy.

AIFO IN LIBERIA (INCLUSIVE DISABILITY)

In Liberia, AIFO started with a local NGO SSBI as back as 1997 with relief items to be distributed to the communities and persons with disabilities affected by the on-going civil war.

AIFO has been the implementing partner for the EU co-funded project titled: ‘From Exclusion to Equality. Promoting Community Based Rehabilitation in Liberia’, which has brought AIFO to partnering with the National Commission on Disabilities (NCD) for the Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) National Program which was implemented in 6 Liberian counties: Margibi, Bong, Nimba, Grand Gedeh, Rivergee, and Maryland. The CBR program is the most relevant and systematized approach and among other things seeks to develop a national system of community-based rehabilitation by providing improved access to health, educational, livelihood and social services for persons with disabilities in Liberia.

AIFO ENGLISH WEBSITE

AIFO ITALIAN WEBSITE

Vision

Enabling opportunities for persons affected by leprosy, persons with disabilities, women/children and members from vulnerable and marginalized communities to lead a better quality of Life

Mission

AIFO, Liberia is a professional non-profit health and development organization that enables opportunities for persons affected by leprosy, persons with disabilities, women, children and members of poor and vulnerable groups, through focused healthcare, education and economic empowerment initiatives in Liberia with the aim of providing a better quality of life and creating large scale positive change.

Our Core values are built on expanding opportunities creating an inclusive world where underserved populations such as people affected by leprosy, people with disabilities and women and children, enjoy equal rights and privileges.

Inclusiveness – We are committed to engaging, supporting and recognizing the values of all members of society, regardless of race, religion, gender, nationality, ethnicity, age, physical or mental ability, socio economic status and geography.

Integrity – We value transparency and accountability in all our professional work, with clear policies and procedures while displaying the utmost level of honesty in our financial dealings.

Effectiveness – We value efficiency and excellence in our work, constantly challenging ourselves to perform better, explore new opportunities and meet and exceed programme targets and to improve and deepen the impact of our interventions.

Innovation – We have been at the forefront of innovations to eliminate leprosy and disability, partnering with organizations that have shown commitment and dedication to using new and innovative methods of solving these challenges. We value creativity and inclusiveness in programme design and development.

Born in 1903 in Nevers (France), Raoul Follereau seemed set for a life as a writer and poet with the publication of his first volume, The book of love, when he was only 17 years old. His career as writer and poet and subsequent marriage to Madeleine Boudou at 22 continued on the conventional path.
But, in 1936, the course of this sensitive writer’s life changed dramatically to that of a great social reformer. A routine assignment through an Argentine newspaper to the Sahara region brought him face to face with leprosy-affected persons for the first time. The strong social discrimination meted out against these unfortunate people, set Follereau on a crusade against this discrimination. Over the next ten years, he traveled the world many times, holding 1200 conferences which allowed him to support the building of Adzope`in Ivory Coast, the town of leprosy affected persons.
What began there, spread into a strong campaign to free them from the segregation imposed by society for centuries. Not confining himself to mere speech, Follereau set an example, visiting them and embracing them to promote the idea that leprosy affected persons are human beings. To him goes the credit of establishing the World Leprosy Day, observed even today in most countries in the world on the last Sunday of January each year.
Exactly thirty years later, in 1966, his initiative resulted in the setting up of ELEP (European Federation for the associations working against leprosy). Later on, it became international and came to be known as ILEP, a federation of major anti-leprosy organizations).
In 1975, he submitted the text of the Universal Declaration of the Rights of the Leprosy Affected Persons to United Nations. Follereau died in Paris in 1977 on December 6, but his work lives on through organizations all over the world which call themselves ‘Friends’ of Raoul Follereau. AIFO work in Liberia is an attempt to translate this doctrine into reality. We call ourselves ‘Amici di Raoul Follereau’, which means ‘Friends of Raoul Follereau’.

Meet The Team

Silvia Poggioli

Advisor

Silvia has thirteen years’ experience as manager and researcher for the non-for-profit sector, in the fields of disability, livelihood, transport (rural transport access and emergency transport systems) and health (maternal health and HIV prevention).

She has experience of working in Brazil, India, Italy, Liberia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and the UK and with multiple donors, including: The European Union, DFID, Comic Relief, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, CHAI and BMGF.
Silvia is an effective project manager, committed to quality programme delivery and placing improved human conditions and dignity at the core of her work. She builds relations with a range of stakeholders quickly and easily and is widely respected for this. Silvia has a naturally questioning and curious mind and is passionate about contributing to effective, evidence based global developmental solutions.
Silvia graduated in Culture and Human Rights from the University of Bologna (Italy) and holds an MSc in Development Administration and Planning from UCL, London (UK).

Silvia is currently representing AIFO in Liberia as the Advisor on the Disability and Start-Up intervention funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation as well as the Coordinated Action on Disability in Liberia inception project funded by the Swedish Embassy in Monrovia.

Melany Oey

County Director

Melany is the Country Director of AIFO-Liberia. She is in charge of the general program management and coordination of AIFO-Liberia donor funded projects. Melany is a Dutch national and has extensive experience in managing international

development projects, in particular in Liberia where she has been living for several years. Melany is committed to quality program delivery, placing solid program management techniques at the core of her work. She is also passionate about contributing to effective evidence based solution.

Willie Dada Peters

Administrator

Willie Peters serves as the head of Finance, Administration and Logistics. One of his core functions is to ensure sound management and accountability for all of AIFO’s projects in Liberia. He’s also in charge of managing AIFO assets and

He’s also in charge of managing AIFO assets and and human resource. Willie worked previously with Medecine Du Monde, MDM, where he served in the same position for over 5 years.

Luther Sangar Mendin

Communications & Program Support Officer

Luther Sangar Mendin serves as the head of Communications and Program Support Unit. One of his core functions is to devise new and innovative programs geared towards promoting the visibility of the

institution and its programs in Liberia. He also provides technical support to AIFO-Liberia projects and deputizes for the Country Director in her absence as far as program related matters are concerned. He has an extensive experience on psychosocial support, communication for development and community integration for disadvantaged and underrepresented groups. On these issues, he has served in various capacities, as National Programme and Communication Officer, Project Officer, Training Officer, Research Assistant among others. Luther has sufficient grounding in Development Driven activities through formal training, practice and research. He has obtained several diplomas and certificates in development interventions and is a recent fellow of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Program, a signature effort of former President Barack Obama to train the next generation of African Leaders who will shape the affairs of the continent. Luther is keen on taking high-level concepts and creating accessible solutions that are right for AIFO in Liberia.

J. Sylvester Roberts

Regional Project Coordinator

J. Sylvester Roberts is a senior staff at AIFO-Liberia currently serving in the position of a Regional Project Coordinator on the Disability and Start Up Project and has been working with AIFO-Liberia since 2012 serving in many capacities.

Sylvester has 11 years of working experience serving in many positions such as National Consultant, National Focal Point, CBR Southeastern Regional Coordinator, CBR Central Regional Coordinator, CBR National Coordinator, Project & Training Officer, Special Assistant, and Sign Language Interpreter. J. Sylvester Roberts graduated from the Lincoln College of Professional Studies and holds an Associate Degree in Public Administration. Tolerance and Human Relations are the core pillars in all that Sylvester does to be successful in his line of duties.

Jonathan S. Davis

Regional Field Coordinator

Jonathan S. Davis
Regional Field Coordinator
Jonathan Saye Davis currently serves as the Regional Field Coordinator for the Disability and Startup Project. His main functions are to coordinate the Community Workers’ job and other

possible figures in the field, in line with AIFO projects’ activities; the coordination includes the monitoring and evaluation of their performance and respect of the role/rules, on-the-job training and their management (substitutions and selections) in collaboration with AIFO Local Program Coordinator and Country Director. Mr. Davis has also worked in several positions with AIFO-Liberia before assuming his current post. To name a few, as supervisor, regional coordinator etc. Jonathan depth of experience is entrenched within the field making sure that all project activities are going on smoothly and timely.

Rebecca Stubblefield

Project Manager CAD-L Project

Rebecca is the Project Manager for the inception project titled: Coordinated Action on Disability in Liberia(CAD-L) funded by the Swedish Embassy in Monrovia. She will be in charge for the general project management and coordination.

Rebecca has more than 10 years’ experience working in the NGO arena in Project Management and Coordination; supporting the participation of vulnerable groups in decision making processes at international, national and local levels.

The aim of her work has largely been to eliminate and/or reduce the barriers and obstacles that limit or deny equitable access to national and local resources and services for people with disabilities. Her latest works have centered on the development of tools for the inclusion of students with special needs in Liberian schools and the production of Advocacy Strategy and Plan for Economic Empowerment of People with Disabilities. Rebecca previously served as Liberia Site Coordinator for Humanity and Inclusion, formerly Handicap International.

Emmanuel Carto

Monitoring & Evaluation Manager

Emmanuel is the M&E Manager for the inception project titled: Coordinated Action on Disability in Liberia(CAD-L) funded by the Swedish Embassy in Monrovia. He is in charge for monitoring, evaluation, reporting and project implementation

efforts.

Emmanuel supports the development of an M&E system for AIFO-Liberia to track project results.
Emmanuel has more than 9 years’ experience in Monitoring and Evaluation, program development and implementation of projects in Education, DDRR, institutional capacity building, research, including youth development and empowerment. He previously served as M&E Specialist as part of the Youth Opportunities Project funded by the World Bank and implemented by the Ministry of Youth & Sports.

Lionel Jeoh-Sieh Williams

Project Accountant

Lionel S. Williams is a thriving financial and accounting services professional with over 8 years working experience in auditing, financial management, administration, operation, and other supervisory position ranging from

government, the private sector, INGOs etc. Prior to joining the AIFO team, Lionel served as Project Accountant on the USAID funded Digital Liberia and eGovernment Activity implemented by the Washington D.C. based International Development firm called Chemonics International, Inc. where he performed accounting and financial services and managed the financial functions of the US$10 million Digital Liberia project.

Lionel has attained a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Degree in Accounting from the Stella Maris Polytechnic in 2010; a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE); currently pursuing his Masters of Business Administration Degree at the University of South Wales, U.K., and has to his credit several professional development training credentials that are worth mentioning.

He provides general accountancy for the Swedish funded project titled: Coordinated Action on Disability in Liberia

Menue Bainda

Communications Assistant

Menue supports the Communications and Program Advisor in developing and rolling out various communication contents and activities for AIFO Liberia.
Menue is exceptionally well organized and resourceful professional with

more than six-year experience in advocacy, voluntarism and youth development. He has solid background in event planning and management and Information Technology; excellent analytical and problem solving skills; and able to handle multiple projects while producing high quality work in a fast paced.

Menue is a graduating senior at the United Methodist University, where he is studying towards a degree in Management. He has performed community volunteer service for local government and donor funded agencies including; iLab Liberia, the Ministry of Health Liberia, UNDP and the Association of African universities amongst other.

Prior to joining AIFO-Liberia, Menue served as Communications Intern at the Millennium Challenge Account Liberia, in 2018 and he currently serving as head of a Volunteers Hub Liberia, a youth led organization that is promoting voluntarism in Liberia.

Nenlay G. Doe

Community Worker-Nimba County

Nenlay G. Doe currently serves as Community Worker for the Disability and Startup project in Nimba County covering clusters of communities in Sanniquellie and surrounding communities. Her primary duties as community worker is to provide

programmatic support for AIFO Project interventions at community and county level. She was once a direct beneficiary of AIFO Liberia previous projects until recently when she was hired by AIFO as an employee. Nenlay, a disabled holds an associate degree in public administration from the Nimba County Community College. She is the president of the Nimba County Disabled Community and also the County Coordinator of the umbrella organisation for all persons with disabilities in Liberia, National Union of Organisations of the Disabled, NUOD. Nenlay is very proactive at advocacy level championing the cause of persons with disabilities in the county.

Krubo Boway

Community Worker- Bong County

Krubo Boway currently serves as Community Worker for the Disability and Startup project in Bong County covering clusters of communities in Gbarnga and surrounding communities. Her primary duties as community worker is to provide

programmatic support for AIFO Project interventions at community and county level. This also involves effective networking with project beneficiaries and stakeholders. She has also worked with USAID DAI/FED as an Extension Officer on the Vegetable Value Chain project which links farmers with local agro-dealers. She has a diploma in secretarial studies from the IRC Vocational Training Institute in N’Zerekore in Guinea.

Arthur Bondo

Community Worker- Bong County

Arthur Bondo currently serves as Community Worker for the Disability and Startup project in Bong County covering clusters of communities in Gbarnga and surrounding communities. His primary duties as community worker is to provide

programmatic support for AIFO Project interventions at community and county level. This also involves effective networking and advocacy with project beneficiaries and stakeholders. Arthur has experience working in the social development field serving different capacities as Social worker with the Lutheran Trauma Healing Program in Bong County, County Ssupervisor with the UNDP for sanitation services to the surrounding communities around Gbarnga city and a volunteer of the Red Cross in Bong County.

Franklin W. Blaye

Community Worker-Grand Gedeh County

Franklin W Blaye currently serves as a Community Worker for the Disability and Startup Project in Grand Gedeh County covering clusters of communities in Zwedru and surrounding communities.

His primary duties as community worker is to provide programmatic support for AIFO Project interventions at community and county level. This also involves effective networking with project beneficiaries and stakeholders. He has worked for many INGOs including Action Contre La Faim (ACF), Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) for projects focusing on human rights and social inclusion of vulnerable groups. He has gained trainings in Leprosy, Tuberculosis, Burulu Ulcer, Ebola Management and Control as part of AIFO-Liberia Support to the Government of Liberia for the eradication of Leprosy and other neglected tropical diseases.

Augustine N. Makor

Community Worker-Nimba County

Augustine N. Makor currently serves as a Community Worker for the Disability and Startup Project in Nimba county covering clusters of communities in Ganta and surrounding communities. His worker is to

provide programmatic support for AIFO Project interventions at community and county level. This also involves effective networking with project beneficiaries and stakeholders. He is one of the longest serving field workers for AIFO since 2013. He has also served the Liberian government as an experienced classroom instructor for many years. Mr. Makor has a certificate of achievement in Community Based Rehabilitation, a program implemented by AIFO Liberia and the National Commission on Disabilities of Liberia. He has gained trainings in Leprosy, Tuberculosis Burulu Ulcer, Ebola Management and Control as part of AIFO-Liberia Support to the Government of Liberia for the eradication of Leprosy and other neglected tropical diseases. Makor also has sufficient grounding in Agri-business management for small holder farmers.

Martu L. Marshall

Community Worker-Montserado County

Martu Holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Management and Sociology. She is an enterprising young Liberian with growing

professional experience with the desire to explore and work in a challenging professional environment. She has a working knowledge to adapt the use of new tools and technical developments to drive improvements throughout a development lifecycle, along with exceptional analytical, design and problem-solving capabilities. Martu currently serves at AIFO as a Community Worker on the Coordinated Action on disability in Liberia(CADL) covering clusters of communities in Montserrado County.

Her primary duties as community worker is to provide programmatic support for AIFO Project interventions at community and county level. This also involves effective networking with project beneficiaries and stakeholders.
She has worked with Destiny Travel Services as a diligent cashier in keeping their cash registered and balanced at all times.