The Liberian Media for Democratic Initiatives (LMDI) and the Dakar Senegal based Pan-African Foundation, TRUST AFRICA have signed a year- long grant agreement aimed at educating the citizenry of Liberia on the rationale of the ongoing 2030 National Visioning Exercise and to foster citizens engagement, participation and feedback.

Under the agreement, TRUST AFRICA will provide support to the LMDI to carry, public education and engagement through the LMDI's media and community outreach platforms to engender National and Community level participation aimed at deriving a broad based national visioning.

LMDI's Director John Kollie says the Trust Africa support will enable the LMDI to encourage and facilitate broad, open and participatory discussions around the National Visioning activities within the public sphere. "Trust Africa gives high priority to the realization of equal opportunity to all members of society.

Accordingly, it is Trust Africa's expectation that in carrying out this grant the LMDI will take appropriate steps to include women and disadvantaged groups in carrying out the activities under this grant," says Akwasi Aidoo, Executive Director of Trust Africa.

The LMDI's John Kollie says his organization will use its media and community outreach blended outdoor interactive public forum THE DIALOGUE, rural community magazine radio program, "WHAT THE PEOPLE SAY" and children and youth platform, "TOMORROW'S PEOPLE" to engender the required open dialogue around Liberia's 2030 National Visioning process.

The LMDI using its platform, THE DIALOGUE moderated and broadcast the five regional presidential forums across five regionally selected counties in March and April this with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf presiding. At the National Vision 2030 National Conference held on December 10--12, the LMDI covered and recorded the deliberations for use during its year long Trust Africa supported citizens' participatory engagement project.

Deliberations from the year long TRUST AFRICA/LMDI National Visioning under "THE DIALOGUE" will be broadcast on the LMDI's partner Network 45 media outlets across Liberia.