Sister AID  Leads Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Women’s Empowerment and Policy Reform

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ADNews-Monrovia, Liberia: Policymakers, government officials, development partners, civil society organizations, and women leaders from across Liberia over the weekend  convened at the European Union Resident Compound Conference Room for a Multi-Stakeholders Dialogue aimed at advancing policy reforms that improve the lives of women and strengthen their participation in national development.

By Benjamin Q. Johnson

The dialogue, organized by Sister AID Liberia (SIAL) under its flagship project, “Advancing Women in Political and Civic Participation in Liberia,” brought together members of the 55th Legislature, representatives of the Executive Branch, development partners, and women leaders to discuss practical solutions to challenges affecting women throughout the country.

The initiative is being implemented by Sister AID Liberia with support from the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) and funding from the European Union, as well as the Governments of Ireland and Sweden.

Delivering an overview of the project and a special statement of appeal, Sister AID Liberia Executive Director, Miatta Garmai Darwolor, commended recent government interventions that have contributed to national development and improved the welfare of women.

Among the achievements highlighted were the groundbreaking ceremony for a new maternity center, the deployment of heavy equipment to improve road infrastructure, and the enrollment of nursing staff at ELWA Hospital onto the government payroll.

“These interventions demonstrate a commitment to improving healthcare services, strengthening economic opportunities, and enhancing the well-being of Liberian citizens,” Madam Darwolor said.

She noted that the initiatives align with the aspirations of women across Liberia who continue to advocate for better services and greater inclusion in national decision-making processes.

Madam Darwolor disclosed that the dialogue was informed by nationwide consultations conducted under the auspices of NIMD. According to her, the consultations revealed a significant gap between political commitments and the realities faced by women in both urban and rural communities.

She identified three key challenges requiring urgent attention: limited access to affordable and quality healthcare services, particularly maternal and reproductive healthcare; poor road infrastructure that isolates rural communities from markets, schools, healthcare facilities, and economic opportunities; and low agricultural productivity coupled with inadequate support for women farmers, which continues to affect livelihoods and food security.

She stressed that addressing these challenges will require coordinated efforts among lawmakers, government institutions, development partners, and local communities.

According to Madam Darwolor, the initiative seeks to strengthen the connection between legislative oversight and the lived experiences of women while promoting greater participation by women in governance and political processes.

She further called on members of the Legislature and the Executive Branch to strengthen legislative oversight, increase budgetary allocations, and implement targeted public service interventions to address the concerns raised during the nationwide consultations.

Madam Darwolor emphasized that meaningful investments in healthcare, agriculture, rural infrastructure, and women’s political participation remain critical to achieving inclusive development and improving the quality of life for women and girls across Liberia.

Agriculture Minister Reaffirms Support for Women Farmers

Speaking at the dialogue, Agriculture Minister Dr. Alexander Nuetah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the agricultural sector and empowering women farmers nationwide.

Dr. Nuetah praised Sister AID Liberia for organizing the forum and described it as an important platform for discussing issues affecting women involved in agriculture, trade, healthcare, and access to finance.

“I am honored to be here today and to listen to the diverse perspectives shared by women from across Liberia, particularly those engaged in agriculture and cross-border trade,” he said.

The Minister disclosed that the Ministry of Agriculture is prioritizing the rehabilitation of farm-to-market roads to facilitate the transportation of agricultural products and improve market access for local farmers.

According to him, the Ministry is also working closely with farmer cooperatives in several counties through empowerment initiatives aimed at increasing productivity and supporting local food production.

However, Dr. Nuetah acknowledged that accountability remains a major challenge among some cooperative groups.

He revealed that while the government has provided financial support to certain farmer groups for agricultural activities, including rice cultivation, some beneficiaries failed to use the funds for their intended purposes.

“We have encountered situations where support provided to cooperatives was not used responsibly. Accountability, transparency, and honesty are essential if we are to build a strong and sustainable agricultural sector,” Dr. Nuetah emphasized.

He warned against the misuse of resources intended for local farmers, noting that such practices undermine government efforts to transform the agricultural sector and strengthen food security.

The Agriculture Minister urged Liberians to embrace agriculture as a business rather than merely a subsistence activity.

“The only way we can truly transform agriculture in Liberia is to view agriculture as a business. It must become a profitable enterprise that creates jobs, improves livelihoods, and contributes to national economic growth,” he stated.

Dr. Nuetah also called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, development partners, farmer cooperatives, women farmers, and youth groups to drive agricultural development across the country.

“As a government, we remain committed to creating an enabling environment for agricultural development. However, success will require the collective efforts of all stakeholders across the agricultural value chain,” he added.

Broad Political Engagement

The initiative includes engagements with major political parties, including the Unity Party (UP), Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), Alternative National Congress (ANC), Liberty Party (LP), and the Citizens Movement for Change (CMC).

The project also involves consultations with the Coalition of Political Party Women in Liberia, the Women Legislative Caucus, county representatives, and relevant government ministries and agencies.

European Union Reaffirms Commitment

Representing the European Union, a senior EU official reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote gender equality, human rights, and inclusive governance.

“It is a great pleasure for the European Union to support this important dialogue,” the representative stated.

“The issues being discussed today are central to national development, social progress, and democratic governance. A democracy cannot truly thrive when the needs, voices, and aspirations of half of its population are not adequately represented and addressed.”

The EU representative stressed that empowering women contributes directly to stronger communities, sustainable economic growth, and national stability.

He urged stakeholders to move beyond dialogue by translating recommendations into concrete policies and measurable results.

“If we are serious about inclusive governance and sustainable national development, women must be fully represented and actively involved at every stage of the process,” he emphasized.

The Multi-Stakeholders Dialogue concluded with a renewed commitment from government officials, lawmakers, development partners, civil society organizations, and women leaders to work collaboratively toward a Liberia where women enjoy equitable access to healthcare, economic opportunities, agricultural resources, and meaningful participation in governance and national development.