The Ministry of National Defense (MOD), through the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), has launched a nationwide awareness campaign aimed at increasing the participation of women in the country’s military as part of broader efforts to build a more inclusive, professional, and gender-responsive national security sector.
The campaign, currently underway across Liberia’s Northern Region—including Bong, Lofa, and Nimba counties—seeks to encourage more women to pursue careers in the Armed Forces while addressing the longstanding social and cultural barriers that have limited female representation in military service.
Supported by the Elsie Initiative Fund, UN Women, and the “For All Women and Girls” initiative, the program is designed to raise public awareness about the important role women play in national defense, challenge harmful gender stereotypes, and strengthen support from families and communities for women aspiring to join the Armed Forces of Liberia.
The awareness activities have brought together community leaders, youth groups, women’s organizations, traditional leaders, civil society representatives, and other stakeholders to discuss the opportunities available to women within the military and the importance of promoting gender equality in Liberia’s security institutions.
The Armed Forces of Liberia has undergone significant reforms since its restructuring following Liberia’s civil conflict, with support from international partners to transform it into a professional, accountable, and inclusive military. In recent years, the Ministry of National Defense has prioritized gender mainstreaming within the security sector in line with Liberia’s commitments under the United Nations Women, Peace and Security Agenda and Sustainable Development Goal 5, which promotes gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
The latest awareness campaign forms part of these ongoing reforms by promoting equal opportunities for women in the military while reinforcing the critical role female personnel play in peacekeeping operations, national defense, humanitarian response, and community security.
The outreach team is led by Jackson Gbarmnie, Acting Director of Gender and Social Inclusion, alongside Assistant Chief of Staff for Communication Hawa Kamara, Director of Public Affairs Anthony Boakai, and other senior officials from the Ministry of National Defense and the Armed Forces of Liberia.
During the awareness sessions, participants are being educated on the AFL’s mandate and mission, recruitment requirements, career opportunities for women, leadership and professional development, gender inclusion policies, peacekeeping responsibilities, welfare benefits, and career advancement prospects.
Serving female officers and soldiers are also sharing their personal experiences and professional journeys to inspire young women who are interested in pursuing military careers and to demonstrate that women can successfully serve and lead within Liberia’s armed forces.
Speaking during one of the awareness engagements, Assistant Chief of Staff for Communication Hawa Kamara emphasized that increasing women’s participation in the Armed Forces is essential to building a professional, effective, and representative security institution that reflects Liberia’s diverse population.
She encouraged qualified young women between the ages of 18 and 35 to seize the opportunity to serve their country, noting that military service offers not only career development but also the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to national peace, stability, and security.
To qualify for recruitment into the Armed Forces of Liberia, applicants must be Liberian citizens between the ages of 18 and 35, possess a valid birth certificate, and have successfully completed high school with passes in at least five subjects in the national examinations, including English and Mathematics.
The campaign is being conducted under the theme, “Women in Uniform, Peace in Action,” with the message, “When Women Serve, Liberia Thrives,” underscoring the vital contribution women make to national peace, security, and sustainable development.
The Ministry of National Defense and its development partners expressed optimism that the initiative will inspire more Liberian women and girls to consider military service as a rewarding profession while helping to strengthen gender equality, diversity, and inclusion within Liberia’s security institutions.
Officials believe that increasing women’s representation in the Armed Forces will not only enhance operational effectiveness and institutional professionalism but also contribute to a more inclusive security sector capable of responding to the country’s evolving peace and security challenges.
