TDS Liberia Advances Cross-Border Peace and Resource Governance in Mano River Kongo
On August 22, 2026, Talking Drum Studio: Liberia Peace Center (TDS Liberia) organized and led a community dialogue on peace, land and resource governance, and community benefits in Mano River Kongo, Porkpa District, Grand Cape Mount County.
Held under the GOLA-REAP Project, funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (UN PBF) through IOM Liberia, the dialogue brought together residents from seven communities in Porkpa District and from neighboring communities in Sierra Leone, along with traditional and local leaders, women, youth, elders, and project partners.
As an implementing partner, TDS Liberia led the planning, community mobilization, coordination, and facilitation of the event. Participants discussed peaceful coexistence, land and natural resource governance, community benefits, and the importance of meaningful community participation in decisions affecting land, resources, and livelihoods.
The dialogue provided an important platform for communities on both sides of the Liberia–Sierra Leone border to share concerns, strengthen trust, and promote peaceful and inclusive approaches to addressing shared challenges.
Culture was also central to the event. The TDS cultural team joined local performers in traditional music and dance, using culture to promote peace, social cohesion, and stronger cross-border relationships.
The initiative reflects TDS Liberia’s commitment to locally led peacebuilding, combining dialogue, community participation, and culture to strengthen trust, amplify community voices, and promote peaceful and inclusive resource governance across border communities.
