3 minutes with Naomi Tulay-Solanke

Naomi is the founder and Executive Director of Community Health Care Initiative Liberia, which she founded after the Ebola outbreak in 2014. She is a member of the Liberian Women’s Humanitarian Network, the Liberian Feminist Forum, and one of the first members of the Feminist Humanitarian Network.

Q: How do you view leadership, feminism and being a humanitarian?

“This world needs more women leading. We are more than just mothers. We are first line responders, humanitarian actors, activists. We believe in equality. We are the change agents in society. When our leadership and agency is recognized and amplified we get to another level. When women are leading humanitarian action, it gives a new paradigm to the whole humanitarian and development world. When women are leading we are doing so with passion-- we envision an inclusive community, where everyone’s rights are respected.”

Q: What are some of the challenges you and the women you work with face as a local humanitarian leaders?

“It’s about time that humanitarian actors recognize the agency and leadership that women lead organisations come with, like Community Health Care Initiative. National, regional and international levels should be an equal playing field for women first responders. They should not only be included for their humanitarian actions, but must also be meaningful decision makers.”

Q: What do you think the impact of a feminist humanitarian system would be?

"The FHN will be inclusive of all, leaving no one behind. It will reduce the among of sexual harassment and abuse committed by aid workers. It will recognize the women leadership and be inclusive of their decisions. Aid workers will be more accountable and transparent, and promote localization."