On July 17, 2026, Rabat hosted a high-level technical delegation from the Group of 77 (Liberia)—a leading organization providing welfare and advocacy for persons living with disabilities under the direct leadership of the Office of the Second Lady, Synleseh Stephenie Dahn-Koung, of the Republic of Liberia—who successfully concluded a historic learning and strategic coordination visit to the Kingdom of Morocco.
Facilitated and sponsored entirely by the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI) and heavily championed by His Excellency Joseph F. Johnson, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Liberia to the Kingdom of Morocco, this first-of-its-kind study tour marks a monumental shift from traditional welfare tracking toward sustainable, economic empowerment models for disability inclusion in West Africa.
The 5-man Liberian technical team, led by Senior Administrator Raymond Zarbay and Program Specialist Stephen Kumorteh, spent several intensive days conducting site assessments and holding high-level institutional exchanges with Morocco’s most advanced social development organizations.
“This visit has been an exceptional demonstration of the bilateral camaraderie between Liberia and Morocco,” stated Ambassador Johnson during the official debriefing event. “The energy and strategic insights generated here must be sustained as we build a clear, action-oriented blueprint for our nations.”
A Historic Advancement for South-South Cooperation
On July 17, 2026, Rabat hosted a high-level technical delegation from the Group of 77 (Liberia), a leading organization dedicated to the welfare and rights of persons living with disabilities. Led directly by the Office of the Second Lady, Synleseh Stephenie Dahn-Koung, this mission marks a decisive step in the evolution of bilateral relations between Liberia and Morocco.
Fully facilitated and funded by the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI), and supported by His Excellency Joseph F. Johnson, Ambassador of Liberia to Morocco, this visit inaugurates a new model: moving from traditional social assistance monitoring toward sustainable economic empowerment approaches for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in West Africa.
A Committed Delegation
The Liberian mission, composed of five experts led by Raymond Zarbay (Senior Administrator) and Stephen Kumorteh (Program Specialist), conducted several days of field assessments and institutional exchanges with the most advanced Moroccan organizations in social development.
“This visit was an exceptional demonstration of bilateral camaraderie between Liberia and Morocco,” Ambassador Johnson said during the official debriefing. “The energy and strategic ideas generated here must be maintained to build a clear and action-oriented roadmap for our nations.”
Three Key Sectors of Immediate Impact
- Deaf Education & Specialized Health
- Partnership with the Lalla Asma Foundation for Deaf Children (Rabat & Tangier).
- Firm commitment to fund cochlear implant surgeries for 10 Liberian children.
- Training of Liberian teachers in specialized speech therapy and American Sign Language (ASL).
- Provision of essential assistive devices (wheelchairs).
- Socio-Economic Empowerment & Justice
- Partnership with the National Union of Moroccan Women (UNFM).
- Study of the successful transition of vulnerable women into entrepreneurship.
- Focus on quality packaging and professional training.
- Mental Health, Down Syndrome & Neurodivergent Integration
- Partnership with the Association for Medical and Mental Integration of Disability.
- Observation of innovative Moroccan models for integrating persons with intellectual disabilities and Down syndrome.
- Successful integration into competitive positions (e.g., management of major retail chains).
Agreed Next Steps
- Organization of reciprocal expert visits.
- Establishment of a bilateral cooperation framework.
- Creation of a Technical Working Group (TWG) bringing together AMCI, the Group of 77, and diplomatic focal points.
These commitments will directly contribute to the ambitious project of the Group of 77: the development of an inclusive residential, educational, and medical center on 25 acres in Montserrado County.
A Spirit of Pan-African Solidarity
The Liberian delegation expressed deep gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the leadership of AMCI, and the Moroccan people for the exceptional welcome and the spirit of Pan-African solidarity shown throughout the visit. They also praised the tireless efforts of the Liberian Embassy in Morocco.
