By Gabriel M C Parker
TUBMANBURG, Liberiia–The Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), in partnership with UN Women and with sponsorship from the Government of Ireland, has convened a two-day dialogue with local government male officials aimed at strengthening women’s leadership in local governance and peacebuilding.
The engagement held in this western Liberian city brought together traditional, religious, and community leaders from Gbarpolu County, Grand Bassa County, and Bomi County.
Participants included chiefs, pastors, imams, and other influential community leaders whose roles are critical in shaping attitudes and decisions within their respective communities.
The dialogue forms part of ongoing efforts to encourage male leaders at the grassroots level to actively support women’s participation in leadership and decision-making processes, particularly in local governance and peacebuilding initiatives.
Providing an overview of the exercise, WONGOSOL Program Manager Munah Kieh said the engagement is aimed at transforming harmful gender norms through county-level dialogues with traditional and religious leaders,
“This dialogue is intended to challenge harmful gender norms and encourage male leaders to become strong allies in advancing women’s leadership and participation in decision-making processes within their communities,” Madam Kieh stated.
According to her, the initiative seeks to strengthen women’s participation in leadership by engaging men as partners in the fight for gender equality and inclusive governance across Liberia.
She noted that despite progress in women’s empowerment nationwide, many women at the community level still face cultural and social barriers that limit their ability to fully participate in leadership roles.
Madam Kieh emphasized that involving men in such discussions is critical because they play a key role in shaping community norms and influencing decisions that affect women’s rights and opportunities.
“We recognize that men hold significant influence within our communities, and their support is essential in creating an enabling environment where women and girls can thrive as leaders and contributors to development,” she added.
The two-day engagement also provides a platform for participants to openly discuss the challenges women face in leadership while identifying practical ways traditional and religious leaders can help support women’s participation.
By the end of the dialogue, male participants are expected to better understand their roles in supporting women and creating opportunities for them to actively contribute to community development, governance, and peacebuilding.
Organizers believe that strengthening collaboration between male community leaders and women’s organizations will contribute significantly to building inclusive communities where both men and women can equally participate in governance and development across Liberia.