UN Women, UNDP Empower Stakeholders to Boost Women’s Political Participation in Liberia

Monrovia, Liberia — Over 40 participants drawn from civil society organizations, women’s rights groups, the National Elections Commission (NEC), the Women’s Legislative Caucus of Liberia, the National Legislature, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP), and the Law Reform Commission are participating in a three-day capacity-building workshop focused on strengthening advocacy and coordination for increased women’s political participation in Liberia.

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By Patience M. Jones

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The workshop, organized by UN Women Liberia and UNDP Liberia with technical support from the UN Electoral Assistance Division, aims to enhance participants’ knowledge and skills in advocacy, lobbying, and electoral processes. It also highlights key legal frameworks that promote gender equality in politics, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) General Recommendation No. 40 and the implementation of Temporary Special Measures (TSMs).

Speaking during the opening ceremony, NEC Commissioner Josephine Kou Gaye described the initiative as “a decisive step toward a more inclusive democratic Liberia where women’s voices are heard and respected.”

Also addressing participants, Representative Ellen Attoh-Wreh, Chairperson of the Women’s Legislative Caucus of Liberia, emphasized the importance of sustained engagement and coordination among institutions and advocates to strengthen political will ahead of the 2029 general elections.

The training is being conducted under the Liberia Electoral Support Project, managed by UNDP and implemented in partnership with UN Women, the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD), and the National Elections Commission (NEC), with financial and technical support from the European Union, Ireland, and Sweden.

The initiative forms part of ongoing efforts by development partners to advance women’s leadership, promote inclusive governance, and ensure gender-responsive electoral processes in Liberia.