Redefining Leadership: How Women are Shaping Liberia’s Future

Within local governance structures in Liberian communities, a quiet revolution is unfolding — one that’s breaking through centuries of tradition and cultural barriers, thanks to a group of brave women determined to lead. “We are telling the men that anything they can do, we the women can do it. They are listening to us now,” says Esther Mulbah, Bopolu Peace Hut Chairperson in Gbarpolu County. Her voice is steady, but there’s a quiet power in her words — a power that has slowly shifted the way her community thinks about women and leadership.

When Esther reflects on the past, she remembers a time when women’s voices were silenced by tradition. For generations, the idea was clear: politics and leadership were men’s work. Women were to support, not lead, the peace hut women explained. But something has changed.

The change didn’t happen overnight, nor did it come easily. But it started when women in Gbarpolu began to speak up—not just about their rights, but about what they could offer as leaders. They became active participants in the Transformative Leadership and Community Engagement for Women’s Participation in Politics and Peacebuilding project, funded by the Government of Ireland and supported by UN Women. This initiative wasn’t merely about teaching women to lead—it empowered them to believe that they could lead and showed them the path to do so. Through leadership and mediation training provided by the project in partnership with organizations like Sister Aid Liberia and the Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), the women were equipped with the tools to mediate conflicts and guide their communities towards positive change.

Caption: Ma Zoe Teasley, Gbarma Peace Hut Chairperson ( Photo: Alana Pradhan @UN Women) 

Esther's story is not an isolated one. Across Liberia, women like Jestina Dukuly have stepped forward. “Before the training, I was afraid. But after the training, I was brave and decided to run in the election,” says Dukuly, who is now the District Commissioner of Bopolu in Gbarpolu County. Her election wasn’t just a personal victory—it was a signal to the women around her that their voices mattered, that their leadership was necessary.

“Anything a man can do, a woman can do,” she says with conviction. It’s a simple statement, but one that still carries weight in Bopolu District  where leadership roles were once only open to men. Dukuly’s rise to power wasn’t just a career achievement—it was proof to other women that they too could challenge long-held norms.

Caption: Bopulu District Commissioner, Jestina Dukuly ( Photo: Alana Pradhan @UN Women) 

The project is not just transforming women’s lives—it’s also reshaping the perceptions of men. The project’s workshops on positive masculinity have helped shift the attitudes of many men in Gbarpolu.  One such ally is Sam Zinnah, the Gbarpolu County Superintendent, who has become a vocal advocate for gender equality. In a region where male-dominated leadership has been the norm for centuries, Zinnah has seen firsthand how changing the mindset of men can open up spaces for women. “We live in a traditional society where our culture dictates that we look at women as maybe second, but I believe that the same thing men can do, women should also have the opportunity to do it.”

Zinnah's support isn’t just a nice gesture—it’s a necessary shift in a culture where men have long been the gatekeepers of power. His recognition of women’s potential to lead has contributed to a broader, more inclusive understanding of leadership. And while the changes are still in progress, Zinnah is hopeful. “When women are empowered, they empower others,” he says, acknowledging the ripple effect that women’s leadership has across communities.

Musu Massaquoi, from the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection in Gbarpolu, knows this struggle all too well. “We need to bulldoze the forest to reach the women in hard-to-reach areas,” she says. In these communities, women still face  challenges due to poor road accessibility, remoteness, limited education, and deeply entrenched cultural norms that view leadership as a male domain.

As of 2024,  women occupy just 11% of local government positions, a modest rise from 8.5% in 2017.  At this rate, gender parity in governance could take another century, emphasizing the urgent need for reforms to create more space for women to lead.

Caption: Peace Hut Women and Participants of the Transformative Leadership project ( Photo: Alana Pradhan @UN Women) 

But despite the challenges, the successes are undeniable. The women who have been part of this project are proving that with support, determination, and education, barriers can be broken. “We are committed to continuing our work with Liberian women, particularly in areas like political participation,” says H.E. Gerard Considine, the Ambassador of Ireland who has witnessed the transformative power of women in politics. The road ahead may be long, but for the women of Gbarpolu County, the future is one where their voices will be heard, their leadership will be respected, and their rights will be championed.

For Esther, Dukuly, and the many other women leading this change, it’s clear: the moment has arrived. They are the leaders of tomorrow—and their communities are already feeling the impact of their courage.

For more information please contact Alana Foley Pradhan – UN Women – Knowledge Management Officer – alana.pradhan@unwomen.org