Over 40 CSO Representatives and Gender Advocates Trained to Advance Women’s Political Participation in Liberia

More than 40 representatives from civil society organizations (CSOs), women’s rights groups, gender advocates, 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) are convening to participate in a three-day capacity-building workshop aimed at strengthening coordination and advocacy for increased women’s political participation in Liberia.

The workshop, organized by UN Women and UNDP, seeks to enhance the knowledge and skills of women-led CSOs and gender advocates to effectively champion gender equality and women’s political participation. It is facilitated by international consultant Rindai Chipfunde Vava from Zimbabwe and Zage Filiposki, UNDP Liberia Electoral Capacity Strengthening Specialist, with technical sessions also led by Maarten Halff, Senior Political Affairs Officer and electoral systems expert of the UN Electoral Assistance Division in New York. The initiative is implemented as part of UNDP Liberia Electoral Support Project, which is supported by the European Union, Irish Aid and Sweden.

The workshop covers key themes including women’s participation in politics, international and national legal frameworks, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) General Recommendation No. 40, electoral systems, and Temporary Special Measures, such as gender quotas. Participants are also engaging in practical sessions on advocacy tools and strategies, culminating in a collective reflection and priority-setting exercise to define next steps and explore a CSO coordination mechanism for sustained engagement.

The Liberia Electoral Support Project supports national institutions and processes to promote inclusive, transparent, and accountable governance. The project is managed by UNDP and implemented in partnership with UN Women and the Netherlands Institute for Multi-Party Democracy (NIMD), alongside the primary national partner, the National Elections Commission (NEC) with support from the European Union, Ireland, and Sweden.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Commissioner Josephine Kou Gaye of the NEC, who has oversight on issues of gender and inclusion, described the workshop as “a decisive step toward a more inclusive and democratic Liberia where women’s voices are heard and respected.”

She urged participants and organizers to view the initiative not just as a capacity-building exercise, but as “a collaborative journey to advocate for a more inclusive democratic society.” Commissioner Gaye reaffirmed NEC’s commitment to gender inclusion, stating: “From the National Elections Commission, we have vested interests. We are the implementers of the law, and when these laws are passed, the NEC will ensure they are enforced. Inclusion is a must.”

Representative Ellen Attoh-Wreh, Chairperson of the Women’s Legislative Caucus, echoed this call for continued collaboration, noting that “there is a need to strengthen civil society to advocate for gender equality and increased women’s political participation.” She emphasized that “continuous engagement and coordination are essential to ensure the political will as we prepare for the 2029 elections.”

Also speaking, Counsellor T. Celestine H. Howard of the Law Reform Commission emphasized the importance of equipping women with practical political and campaigning skills ahead of elections. She cautioned that “achieving a gender quota alone is not enough to ensure equality and equal participation for women in politics.”

In her remarks, Katherine Green, Chief Technical Advisor of the UNDP Liberia Electoral Support Project, highlighted that women’s political participation remains “both important and topical,” as Liberia considers potential electoral reforms.

She reaffirmed UNDP and UN Women’s commitment to supporting national aspirations for gender equality, noting that “promoting women’s political participation is not only a constitutional imperative but also aligned with international human rights standards and the Sustainable Development Goals.”

Green added: “The need to increase women’s political participation has been discussed for many years. As Liberia enters a new electoral cycle, this is an opportunity to influence outcomes for the longer term. Your actions will be stronger if you can work together to amplify your message.”

The Liberia Electoral Support Project supports national institutions and processes to promote inclusive, transparent, and accountable governance. The project is managed by UNDP and implemented in partnership with UN Women and the Netherlands Institute for Multi-Party Democracy (NIMD), alongside the primary national partner, the National Elections Commission (NEC)with support from the European Union, Ireland, and Sweden.