Africa-Press – Liberia. More than 50 representatives from civil society organizations (CSOs), women’s rights groups, gender advocates, and key government institutions have convened in Monrovia for a three-day capacity-building workshop aimed at advancing women’s political participation and strengthening coordination for gender equality in Liberia.
The workshop, jointly organized by UN Women and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), brings together participants from the National Elections Commission (NEC), the Law Reform Commission (LRC), the Women’s Legislative Caucus of Liberia (WLCL), and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP).
Facilitated by international consultant Rindai Chipfunde Vava from Zimbabwe and Zage Filiposki, UNDP Liberia Electoral Capacity Strengthening Specialist, the sessions also feature technical inputs from Maarten Halff, Senior Political Affairs Officer and electoral systems expert at the UN Electoral Assistance Division in New York.
Implemented under the UNDP Liberia Electoral Support Project supported by the European Union, Irish Aid, and Sweden the workshop focuses on enhancing the advocacy and leadership skills of women-led CSOs to effectively champion gender equality and inclusive governance
Key themes include women’s participation in politics, international and national legal frameworks such as CEDAW General Recommendation No. 40, electoral systems, and Temporary Special Measures (TSMs) like gender quotas. Participants are engaging in practical exercises on advocacy tools and strategies, culminating in a collective reflection to set priorities and explore mechanisms for sustained CSO coordination.
Speaking at the opening session, Commissioner Josephine Kou Gaye of the NEC described the initiative as “a decisive step toward a more inclusive and democratic Liberia where women’s voices are heard and respected.”
She urged participants to view the training not merely as a workshop but as “a collaborative journey to advocate for a more inclusive democratic society,” reaffirming NEC’s commitment to enforcing laws that promote gender inclusion. “Inclusion is a must,” Commissioner Gaye emphasized.
Representative Ellen Attoh-Wreh, Chairperson of the Women’s Legislative Caucus of Liberia, echoed similar sentiments, stressing the need to strengthen civil society engagement ahead of the 2029 elections. “Continuous coordination is essential to ensure the political will for increased women’s participation,” she said.
Also speaking, Cllr. T. Celestine H. Howard of the Law Reform Commission underscored the importance of equipping women with practical political and campaign management skills, noting that “achieving a gender quota alone is not enough to ensure equality in political representation.”
In her remarks, Katherine Green, Chief Technical Advisor of the UNDP Liberia Electoral Support Project, described women’s political participation as “both important and topical” as Liberia considers electoral reforms. She reaffirmed the commitment of UNDP and UN Women to supporting Liberia’s national goals for gender equality and inclusive governance.
“The need to increase women’s political participation has been discussed for many years,” Green noted. “As Liberia enters a new electoral cycle, this is an opportunity to influence outcomes for the long term. Your actions will be stronger if you can work together to amplify your message.”
The Liberia Electoral Support Project, managed by UNDP in partnership with UN Women and the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD), works closely with the NEC to strengthen inclusive, transparent, and accountable democratic processes with financial backing from the European Union, Ireland, and Sweden.
County, targeting the ecologically crucial Wologisi landscape. The project, a collaborative effort between FORUMCIV and its partner Social Empowerment Through Learning Liberia (SELL), is being implemented with crucial financial support from the Government of Ireland.
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