About Us

The Moniba Foundation

Our Board & Implementing Team

Board of Directors

Chairman of the Board

Clarence K. Moniba, Ph.D, has almost 15 years of experience working in and out of government, with his first posting at the Liberian Embassy in Washington DC, and his second assignment to the Permanent Mission of Liberia to the United Nations. His service includes becoming the youngest person in the country’s history to be named Minister of State without Portfolio, as well as the youngest person to serve as Chairman of the Board of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC).

As a Principal Advisor and Project Manager to the President of the Republic of Liberia, Dr. Moniba was a leading figure in major investment and infrastructure developments in Liberia from 2014 – 2018 while leading the nation’s Diaspora Engagement Unit, the Philanthropy Secretariat, and the President’s Delivery Unit (PDU).

Other roles include working with the African Development Bank’s High-Level Panel on Post-Conflict & Fragile States, as well as the United Nations Post-2015 Development Agenda. Academically, he received his first Master’s in Government, and his second from Harvard University’s Kennedy School with a Master’s in Public Administration, graduating with summa cum laude honors (4.0 GPA). He also has a Doctorate in Rhetoric and Professional Communications from New Mexico State University, again graduating with summa cum laude honors.

In 2018, the Government of Liberia awarded Dr. Moniba with the Knight Commander of the Most Venerable Order of Pioneers for his outstanding and distinguished service to Liberia.

Colonel Henry C. Brown (US Army) is a graduate of New Mexico State University (BA), William and Mary (MBA), and completed the National Security Affairs Fellowship at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University.

Colonel Brown is a Logistics Officer and has served in a variety of assignments in the United States, Europe, Middle East, and Indo-Pacific. He has also deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan theaters multiple times.

He was with Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Energy Middle East in Bahrain from 2017 to 2019, serving as the Senior Regional Leader for DLA Energy; responsible for the storage, supply, and distribution of bulk petroleum products to US Forces, US Department of State, and Allied Forces throughout the CENTCOM area of operations.

He has served in the United States Military since 2001.

Grace Guar has a degree in Speech Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations from Millersville University in the United States.

She has worked in various roles throughout her career and is presently working with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, having done so for the past ten years as an Energy Assistance Case Worker.

She has worked as a 401k analyst for five years with Affiliated Computer Services, servicing Northrop Grumman, a global aerospace, defense, and security company employees’ 401K accounts.

Grace is also the Founder of Legacy Holding Foundation which supports children’s education since 2009 in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the United States.

She has also served as the President of Liberian Women Advocacy Network International since 2019. The organization focuses on fighting against gender and sexual gender-based violence in the United States and Liberia, West Africa.

Grace is an author of the book entitled, “THE LIFE, THE LOSS, THE LEGACY,” published in October of 2023.

Vera W. Harding, born and raised in Liberia, is a Finance and Accounting professional in the biotech industry. She brings a wealth of professional and non-profit management experience. Vera serves in the leading role of Vice President of the Liberian Women Advocacy Network International, LLC., a non-profit organization that advocates against human rights violations and abuses of sexual, gender-based violence against women and children in diaspora communities and Liberia since March 2020.

She is also the Co-host of Split Talk, The NOW Generation, a social podcast focused on topics of social wellbeing, self-care, political enlightenment, empowerment, and growth.

Vera holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Management with a concentration in Accounting from the University of Phoenix.

Paul Ngafua Moniba studied Industrial Manufacturing Engineering technology, with an emphasis on Sugar Manufacturing, in Taiwan (ROC) in the mid-1970s. He subsequently worked with The Liberia Sugar Corporation in Maryland County, Liberia. In the mid-1980s and just before the Liberian Civil conflict, he pursued degrees in Mathematics and Civil Engineering at both CUC and UL respectively (Not completed). He then migrated to the United States in the late ’90s. In the USA, he pursued and earned two certificates and a diploma in A+ Computer repair and maintenance. He worked with the Canada-Dry company as a Technical Assistant and later transitioned to a service career with the United States Postal Service where he sought permanent employment and worked in various positions and capacities within the system for thirteen (13) years.

He retired in 2016 and has now transformed and established his natural drawing hobby and talent into the Moniba Visual Arts Production, which is one of the leading hubs for African-Liberian Original Artworks in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. In addition to his present activities, he also does in-home computer setups, maintenance, and repair works.

Ken Payne is a retired Army Officer who spent 20 years serving in various capacities around the world, including twice serving on the Army Staff in the Pentagon where he led a software prototype development office and, later oversaw the fiscal and product management of a multibillion-dollar Defense development program. He also worked as a Senior Analyst for the Department of Defense, charged with assessing future technologies for possible use by the US Military. During this time, he participated in two committees and four subcommittees on science and technology forecasting with the US National Academies of Science.

Since leaving the Department of Defense, he has served in senior roles in the humanitarian assistance and development arena, focusing mostly on supporting US Development and Assistance in North Africa and the Middle East. He is a subject matter expert in workforce planning, leadership, and organizational management.

Mr. Payne has a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and Public Administration from Florida A&M University and a Master’s Degree in Science and Technology Commercialization from the University of Texas at Austin.

Grace-tee Kpaan has a diverse background in labor relations and community leadership accomplishments.
She attended Global University with headquarters in Springfield, Missouri, earning a Bachelor of Arts. She furthered her knowledge of labor relations and workers’ solidarity by obtaining a diploma from the United Steel and General Workers Union in the USA.

Ms. Kpaan served as the President of the Dock Workers Union of Liberia for two terms and was also elected as the President of the International Transport Workers Federation Coordinating Committee. This position allowed her to coordinate efforts of over 700 unions with approximately 10 million transport workers worldwide.

She has also served as a member of the Board of Directors for the National Port Authority and held the position of Interim Deputy Managing Director for Operations. She also worked as the Superintendent of Montserrado County and chaired the Redemption Hospital Board from 2013-2018.

In education, Ms. Kpaan has also established the William Lee Bonner and Life International Schools, demonstrating her commitment to providing quality education to young minds. In addition she owned and operated a Ritter pharmacy and later established the Balm in Gilead Clinic to meet the health needs of citizens in rural Montserrado, Liberia.

Grace-tee has been recognized with numerous honors and awards from more than 20 institutions, including Inquirer Newspapers, the University Student Initiative, the Musician Union of Liberia, and the Liberia Albino Society. Her passion for social justice, commitment to education, and devotion to her community makes Grace-tee Kpaan an inspiring figure.

Veratonian – The Vera Brothers, Casey and Carter, are professional actors, designers, writers and overall entertainers.  Residing in Los Angeles, California, they have acted in dozen of movies, music videos and television commercials amassing millions of views.  They have worked with several brands, which include McDonalds, Nike, Guinness and K-Swiss, and in television shows such as The Shield, The Closer, Weeds, Bones, Criminal Minds and NCIS.

The brothers launched their clothing company, F1 Apparel, which has produced name clothing trademarks such as We’d and Bitche, now being worn in over 25 countries to include Asia, Europe and Africa.

They are also directing several documentaries that are currently in post-production for release in 2024.

Board Secretary

Gladys Koisay Payne is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and Mental Health Therapist.  Additionally, as a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC), she has almost 20 years of field experience with a concentration in Individual, Children and Couples Psychotherapy, working with dozens of clients in the DC, Maryland, Virginia area (DMV/USA).  Her areas of expertise include: Depression and various Mood Disorders, Anger Management, Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Anxiety and Stress Management, Self-Esteem and Self-Identity, Family and Relationship Issues and Child/Adolescent Behavioral Management.  Her specific Therapeutic Modalities are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy and Client/Person-Centered Therapy.  For the past 8 years, she has also engaged in Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT).

Mrs. Payne has traveled extensively to Liberia and, similar to the United States, has served as a Mentor, Counselor and Life Coach, to dozens of adults, both young and old.  She earned her Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Marymount University (USA) and a double Bachelor of Arts in Government & Law and Psychology from Lafayette College (USA).

Implementing Team

Chief Operating Officer

  • Francis N. Dugba

Monitoring and Evaluation

  • Juice Puppoh
  • Moses Forkpa

Week of Giving Coordinator

  • Jumah Boimah

Fundraising, Partnership & Branding

  • McBorrough Creative Agency

Communications Team

  • Paul Bombo
  • Thomas Sankara Johnson
  • Allen Weatoe
  • Richard Young

Student Relations Officers

Loan Officers

  • Omaru Kanneh – Drivers Union and Petty Traders
  • Peter Lebbeh – Teachers
  • Mary Kollie – Market Women
  • Joan Porte Seward – Nurses

Community Engagement Officers

Technical and Vocational Training

County Coordinators