Liberia, July 9 -- Five years ago, organizations working on sexual and reproductive health across Liberia reached the same conclusion: acting alone was not enough. With funding from the Swedish government, they formed the Amplifying Rights Network, a coalition that has since trained community leaders, mobilized thousands of citizens, and helped move women's reproductive health into national debate.

Partners in the coalition are celebrating those gains this week as the project comes to a close. But as cuts to reproductive health and education funding by major donors cast a cloud over the celebrations, activists admit some of the project's biggest goals remain out of reach. The coalition has yet to secure long-term local ownership of the ...