MONROVIA, LIBERIA- The Liberia Women’s Legislative Caucus has signed a one-million-dollar project titled “Women Legislators in Liberia – Promoting Voice, Leadership, and Gender-Responsive Governance for Sustainable Development” to be implemented by the UN-Women Liberia in collaboration with the Women’s Legislative Caucus.
The project is being funded by India, Brazil, and South Africa Facility for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation, coordinated by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation.
Making remarks during the signing ceremony, recently, UN Women Country Representative, Comfort Lamptey, thanked the Governments of India, Brazil, and South Africa for their commitment to advancing women’s leadership and economic empowerment in Liberia.
Madam Lamptey paid homage to the Women’s Legislative Caucus for its vision and leadership, noting that women’s parliamentary caucuses have proven to be important engines of change.
The UN Women Country Representative recognized the Women’s Legislative Caucuses for being instrumental in advancing constitutional quotas, passing equal opportunity laws, and strengthening protection against harmful practices and domestic violence.
According to her, these efforts show that when women join forces across party lines, they can leave a lasting imprint on laws, policies, and the lives of citizens.
In the midst of obstacles, Madam Lamptey said,” Women’s Legislative Caucus has been a voice for gender equality, advocating quotas, advancing reforms to tackle women’s unequal participation in politics and public life, and speaking out against harmful practices”.
She said that though women’s representation at the Legislative level remains low, at 11 percent, at the ministerial level, representation has improved, with women accounting for around 35 percent.
She disclosed that many women still lack the economic opportunities to prosper and to influence decisions, mostly due to violence against women, including harmful practices, that continue to deny them the rights and their future.
She termed the project a tool for transformation to strengthen the Caucus as an institution, extend its reach into communities, and ensure that its advocacy is reflected in laws, policies, and budgets that respond to the realities faced by women and girls.
She re-committed the UN Women will continue to stand with the Caucus, the Legislature, and all partners, to help ensure that this project delivers real, tangible progress for women’s political participation, economic empowerment, and gender equality in Liberia.
Meanwhile, Grand Cape Mount Senator Darbah Varpilah said the project runs in eight of Liberia’s 15 counties for the next eighteen Months under the one Million Dollar support from India, Brazil, and South Africa.
The Women Legislators in Liberia: Promoting Voice, Leadership, and Gender-Responsive Governance project under the IBSA Fund will be coordinated through UN South–South Cooperation with UN Women as the implementing partner.
Senator Varpilah named Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Bassa, Grand Gedeh, Lofa, Margibi, and Montserrado Counties as the areas of concentration for the project from 2025-2027.
She said the project will focus on strengthening the Women’s Legislative Caucus of Liberia (WLCL) and the wider legislative processes, enabling women leaders to shape laws, budgets, and oversight. This will involve coordinating with key institutions to promote priority legal and policy reforms, utilizing gender analysis and public consultation, among other approaches.
She identified the provision of on-demand technical support, including drafting bills, briefs, and hearing notes through a national expert roster, as well as running three South-South exchange cycles with peers, such as India and South Africa, and adapting lessons and best practices to Liberia, as major activities of the project.