MONROVIA –The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP) has convened a high-level Stakeholders’ Coordination Meeting aimed at reinforcing collaboration with international and development partners supporting gender equality, child protection and social protection programs across Liberia.
By Patience M. Jones
Held Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at the Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, outside Monrovia, the meeting marked the Ministry’s first structured coordination engagement of its kind and signals a renewed commitment to harmonizing partner-supported interventions with national development priorities.
The gathering brought together key institutions including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UN Women, ActionAid, SOS Children’s Villages, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Save the Children, Plan International, Medica Liberia and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), among others.
Presiding over the session, Gender Minister Gbeme Horace Kollie emphasized that sustainable and inclusive development requires coherent collaboration between government institutions and development partners.
“As the lead government institution responsible for gender equality, child welfare and social protection, we recognize that collective action and accountability are essential to delivering measurable results for our people,” the Minister noted.
The coordination meeting forms part of the Ministry’s broader strategy to align partner interventions with its Five-Year Strategic Plan (2026–2030) and Liberia’s national ARREST Agenda (2024–2029), particularly Programs 47–50 under Pillar Six, which focuses on human capital development and social inclusion.
During the engagement, the Ministry presented an overview of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), a five-year national framework spanning 2025–2029.
The agenda is built around six pillars: Economic Transformation, Infrastructure Development, Rule of Law, Governance and Anti-Corruption, Environmental Sustainability, and Human Capital Development.
Minister Kollie and her technical team outlined how the Ministry’s flagship programs directly contribute to these objectives.
Under Program 47 (Inclusive Policies and Systems), the Ministry aims to eliminate structural barriers affecting vulnerable populations, increase women’s representation in leadership by 30 percent, and eradicate child marriage by 2029.
Program 48 (Sexual and Gender-Based Violence) seeks to reduce SGBV cases by 50 percent while strengthening survivor-centered services through improved inter-agency coordination.
Through Program 49 (Inclusive Integrated Social Protection and Welfare), the Ministry plans to improve the livelihoods of 16,000 vulnerable individuals—particularly women and youth—by expanding access to education and economic empowerment initiatives.
Meanwhile, Program 50 (Economic Empowerment of Women and Vulnerable Groups) targets a 75 percent financial inclusion rate and promotes climate-resilient livelihood strategies to enhance long-term economic security.
Discussions at the meeting were organized around four thematic pillars: Gender Equality, Child Protection, Social Protection, and Institutional Capacity Strengthening. Partners provided updates on ongoing programs, identified opportunities for synergy, and explored practical coordination mechanisms to reduce duplication and strengthen nationwide service delivery.
To enhance monitoring and accountability, the Ministry announced plans to introduce a standardized reporting template for all partners.
The tool is intended to harmonize data collection, ensure consistent reporting, and support evidence-based decision-making.
Participants welcomed the initiative, describing it as a critical step toward strengthening sector-wide collaboration and improving development outcomes. Stakeholders further recommended institutionalizing regular coordination meetings to sustain momentum and reinforce shared responsibility.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to fostering strong partnerships and advancing measurable progress in gender equality, child protection, and social protection.
With renewed coordination mechanisms in place, the Government and its partners aim to ensure that Liberia’s development trajectory remains inclusive leaving no woman, child, or vulnerable individual behind.
