Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development

The Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development, also known as the EJS Center, is an organization to encourage and develop women in leadership roles in Africa. Founded by the former Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in 2018, the organization aims "to be a catalyst for change across Africa, by helping unleash its most abundant untapped power – its women".

Ophelia Weeks, ex-President of the University of Liberia, was appointed as the center's first executive director.

Amujae Initiative
The center launched its flagship program, the Amujae Initiative, at the Farmington Hotel in Margibi County on International Women's Day in March 2020. 'Amujae' means "we are going up" in Liberian dialect, and the initiative aims to prepare women for promotion to leadership positions across Africa.

In 2020, Joyce Banda of Malawi and Catherine Samba-Panza of Central African Republic helped Johnson Sirleaf with the Amaujae Initiative, 15 women were chosen as the inaugural cohort of participants to receive mentorship. They were:
 * 1) 🇬🇭 Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, MP, doctor and activist
 * 2) 🇷🇼 Clare Akamanzi, CEO, Cabinet minister and lawyer
 * 3) 🇸🇱 Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, mayor of Freetown
 * 4) 🇳🇬 Hadiza Bala Usman, managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority
 * 5)  Oley Dibba-Wadda, president and CEO of the Gam Africa Institute for Leadership (GAIL)
 * 6) 🇱🇷 Kula Fofana, president of People's Foundation Africa
 * 7) 🇬🇭 Yawa Hansen-Quao, executive director and social entrepreneur
 * 8) 🇬🇳 Malado Kaba, Guinea's first female finance minister
 * 9) 🇱🇷 Cornelia Kruah-Togba, NGO founder, public servant and women's advocate
 * 10) 🇿🇼  Fadzayi Mahere, lawyer, advocate, lecturer and political leader
 * 11)  Aida Alassane N'Diaye-Riddick, development expert and public servant
 * 12) 🇳🇬 Angela Nwaka, nurse, consultant, legislator and NGO director
 * 13) 🇳🇬 Jumoke Oduwole, academic, government advisor, and advocate
 * 14) 🇹🇿 Upendo Duraha Penza, MP and advocate
 * 15) 🇪🇹 Blen Sahilu, human rights lawyer and gender expert

In 2021, 15 women across 11 African countries were chosen:
 * 1) 🇳🇬 Teju Abisoye, development expert, lawyer and youth advocate
 * 2) 🇬🇭 Farida Bedwei, tech entrepreneur and disability rights advocate
 * 3) 🇪🇹 Dagmawit Moges Bekele, Minister of Transport and Member of House of People's Representatives
 * 4) 🇸🇸 Susan Grace Duku, activist and refugee advocate
 * 5) 🇸🇱 Dr. Yakama Manty Jones, economist, lecturer, entrepreneur and philanthropist
 * 6) 🇸🇱 Isata Kabia, social entrepreneur, former MP and Minister
 * 7) 🇧🇼 Bogolo Kenewendo, economist, former Minister and gender and youth activist
 * 8) 🇪🇬 Ghada Labib, Deputy Minister and communications & IT expert
 * 9)  Angèle Makombo, political advisor and party leader
 * 10)  Fatoumatta Njai, Parliamentarian, Women's Leadership Advocate
 * 11) 🇳🇬 Ifeyinwa Maureen Okafor, government advisor and corporate director
 * 12) 🇰🇪 Umra Omar, humanitarian, community development strategist and gubernatorial candidate
 * 13) 🇳🇬 Dr. Adaeze Oreh, Doctor, healthcare advocate and author
 * 14) 🇱🇷 Telia Urey, businesswoman, politician and activist
 * 15) 🇰🇪 Anne Waiguru, economist and governor of Kirinyaga County.