“I Believe in These Women” ECOWAS Rep. Says as Women Legislative Caucus Launches 5yrs Strategic Plan

By: Laymah Kollie

Monrovia-May 29,2024: ECOWAS Resident Representative, Ambassador Josephine Nkrumah has expressed her strong conviction in the ability of Liberian women for leadership particularly women in the Legislature.

The Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) Representative made the assertion during official launch of the Women Legislative Caucus of Liberia 5 year strategic plan.

The strategic plan which is considered the first of its kind since the establishment of the August Body, focuses on five significant pillars. These pillars include: Promotion of Women Legislative Caucus Agenda; Strengthening gender responsive budgeting and governance; Promoting Women’s equal participation and representation; Enhancing Institutionalization and financial sustainability and Monitoring and Evaluation of framework.

Amb. Nkrumah noted that m the potential of women in the first branch of government to plan and formally execute them is remarking for the leadership journey of the next generation of women.

The ECOWAS Ambassador believes the women of Liberia are capable of making the difference in society. “I believe in these women. I believe that these women are going to do something good. The women of Liberia can make a difference” she said.

Giving overview of the Women Legislative Caucus Strategic Plan, Senate Protempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence stated that the Caucus in 2023 had a strategic plan to ensure that all of the women legislators were re-elected. Unfortunately that was not achieved as a few of them were defeated.

According to protemp Lawrence, even though the agenda was not fully accomplished, they however got some great achievements; adding that the biggest election achievements for the caucus in 2023 included the additional one woman added to the Senate, and getting three women elected in Grand Cape Mount County where no woman was elected before. The same with Grand Gedeh where a woman was elected for the first time.

She then presented the action plan as a milestone in the history of the Women Legislative Caucus of Liberia.

“Ladies and gentlemen, today we are here to celebrate a significant milestone in the history of the women legislative caucus. For the first time we are presenting a five years strategic plan to the president, the First Lady, the speaker and members of the House of Representatives, the Senate, the Ministry of gender and to our local and  international partners” Protem Nyonblee lamented.

The President Protem also used the medium to seek partnership support from local, national and international partners. She noted that the support which would be either in cash or kind is significantly important to fostering the development and executing the agenda of the Women Legislative Caucus.

She indicated that the support will strengthen their legislative functions, including oversight and proper representation of the constituents.

“We are here to seek partnership and support in cash or kind to accomplish the ambitious but yet incredibly important objectives. With your support, we look forward to strengthening members legislative functions, oversight functions, representational function and promote women’s participation in politics, public leadership and elections. And lastly to institutionalize the Women Legislative Caucus, and strengthen the operations and sustainability of the WLC secretariat.”

She at the same time appreciated the Government of Liberia, the UN Women, UNDP , the European Union, Sweden and the Government of Ireland for their support rendered through the years.

“We are extremely grateful to UN Women, UNDP, European Union, and theGovernments of Sweden and Ireland for the support to achieving this objective.
To all of our partners who supported before and continue to support, we are grateful. We look forward to ensuing that women who have the record of being the best leaders get to a 50/50participation record in Liberia, walking side by side with the men”

Meanwhile, the Government of Liberia through the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Thomas Fallah reaffirmed government support to the Women Legislative Caucus of Liberia.

International Partners including the European Union, the UN Women, Swedish Government, Ireland and UNDP also recommitted to supporting the women of Liberia. The occasion which was held at Capitol Building Wednesday May 28,2024 brought together representatives from the Legislature, Executive and Civil Society.

The Women legislative caucus was founded in 2006 by women legislators of the 52nd national legislature with a purpose of defining and promoting a common agenda for gender equality, irrespective of political affiliation, religion, ethnic background or other persuasions.