By Kruah Thompson
The Women’s Legislative Caucus of Liberia (WLCL), with support from India, Brazil, and South Africa Facility for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation (IBSA Fund) and coordinated by the UN-Office for South-South Cooperation, has launched a USD 1 million project to strengthen women’s leadership and governance across eight counties.
The project, titled “Women Legislators in Liberia: Promoting Voice, Leadership, and Gender Responsive Governance,” was signed on September 9, 2025, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It will run for 18 months (2025–2027) in Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Bassa, Grand Gedeh, Lofa, Margibi, and Montserrado counties.
The initiative aims to build the capacity of WLCL members, legislative committees, and staff in gender-responsive lawmaking, oversight, budgeting, and constituency outreach. It will also provide technical support for drafting bills, briefs, and hearing notes, and run three South-South exchange cycles with peers from India and South Africa.
The project will shift the narrative on women’s political participation through community engagement, media partnerships, policy briefs, and collaboration with civil society. Integrated interventions will include adult literacy, digital and financial skills, entrepreneurship, and value chains in agriculture. Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) and women’s cooperatives will be strengthened, and a legislative internship program will place young women with WLCL members and committees.
Senator Dabah Varpilah of Grand Cape Mount County highlighted the persistent barriers to women’s leadership, including restrictive social norms, high campaign costs, safety risks, and limited access to networks, skills, and financial resources. Gender analysis, she noted, is not consistently applied in lawmaking or budgeting, making the project a timely intervention.
UN Women Liberia Representative Comfort Lamptey praised the initiative, saying: “We recognize and commend the Women’s Legislative Caucus for your vision and leadership. Women’s parliamentary caucuses around the world have proven to be engines of change. Liberia is no exception. Yet women remain underrepresented in leadership, holding only about 11 percent of legislative positions and 35 percent at ministerial levels. Too many women still lack economic opportunities, and violence continues to deny women and girls their rights. This project is a tool for transformation. Strengthening the Caucus, extending its reach into communities, and ensuring advocacy is reflected in laws, policies, and budgets.”
She added that the continued support of the European Union, Sweden, Ireland, UNDP, and the IBSA Fund demonstrates a strong coalition for women’s leadership and empowerment.
“UN Women is proud to walk with you in this journey. The true measure of success will be what Liberian women can point to in the years ahead: greater political participation, stronger protections from violence, and more economic opportunities,” Lamptey said.
