– in Liberia
By: Laymah Kollie
MONROVIA — UN Women and its partners have officially rolled out the Gender Promotion Initiative 2.0 (GPI 2.0), a three-year programme aimed at strengthening women’s participation in Liberia’s peacebuilding, justice and decision-making processes.
The initiative was launched at Bella Cassa Hotel in Monrovia under the theme “Strengthen Her Voice,” bringing together government officials, civil society and women’s rights organizations, UN partners, development actors and members of the public.
UN Women Country Representative Dr. A. H. Monjurul Kabir said the initiative is designed to strengthen social cohesion and sustainable peace by improving women’s access to justice and expanding their participation in decision-making, particularly around transitional justice, the War and Economic Crimes Court and broader governance processes.
According to Kabir, GPI 2.0 will focus on strengthening women’s rights organizations, supporting government institutions to become more gender responsive, and building stronger links between communities, civil society and government.
He said the project places strong emphasis on local ownership, with direct investment in women’s rights organizations and networks to build sustainable national capacity and strengthen women’s leadership at both community and national levels.
“Sustainable peace is not possible without women’s full, equal and meaningful participation.”
Kabir also linked the initiative to Liberia’s implementation of its National Action Plan III on Women, Peace and Security, saying GPI 2.0 provides an opportunity to turn policy commitments into tangible results for women and girls.
He stressed that the success of the programme should not be judged merely by the number of activities conducted, but by stronger institutions, empowered women’s organizations, greater participation of women in decision-making and increased public trust in justice and peacebuilding processes.
The UN Women representative reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to working with the Government of Liberia, civil society, development partners and communities to ensure women and girls become not only beneficiaries of change but leaders of it.
Speaking on behalf of Kvinna Till Kvinna, Programme Manager Madam Mabel Kear described the initiative as an important step toward placing women’s experiences and leadership at the center of transitional justice and peacebuilding.
“Women’s voices will shape the future of justice, peace, and democracy in Liberia.”
Kear said Kvinna Till Kvinna’s work in Liberia has focused on strengthening the capacity of women’s rights organizations to participate meaningfully in national and community-level peace and justice processes.
She emphasized that the project should help ensure that the sacrifices of women and communities contribute to genuine reconciliation and lasting peace.
Furthermore, Gender, Children and Social Protection Minister Madam Gbeme Horace-Kollie said GPI 2.0 should not be viewed as another standalone project, but as part of Liberia’s broader effort to strengthen women’s leadership, amplify survivors’ voices and engage young people in sustaining peace.
“We are strengthening a partnership around something fundamental to Liberia’s future.”
The minister urged partners to build on existing community structures rather than create parallel systems, pointing specifically to women’s peace hubs as trusted spaces that have contributed to conflict prevention, dialogue and peacebuilding.
She also emphasized accountability, national ownership and measurable results, saying the ultimate test of the project would be its impact on women, survivors, young people and communities.
“We are moving from planning to action.”
The project is being implemented through a partnership involving UN Women, the Office of the UN Human Rights in Liberia (OHCHR), and Kvinna Till Kvinna, with support from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund.
A representative of Liberia’s civil society community also welcomed the initiative, stressing the importance of connecting younger women with older women to strengthen women’s participation in national conversations.
“We need practical implementation that works.”
Women peacebuilders from communities, including women who have worked to sustain peace through difficult periods, also welcomed the initiative and expressed readiness to participate in its implementation.
The rollout ended with calls for stronger collaboration among government, civil society, women’s groups, UN partners and communities to ensure that GPI 2.0 translates Liberia’s commitments on women, peace and security into meaningful change on the ground.
