Liberia Agricultural and Environmental Journalists Network (LAEJN) Promote informed journalism and public engagement on agricultural and environmental nalists Network (LAEJN)
By LAEJN Editorial Team
Stakeholders from across Liberia’s agriculture and development sectors who gathered in Monrovia on Monday, April 14, 2025 for a One-day Inclusive Gender Policy Dialogue on Agriculture emerged from the forum with a strong consensus and a set of actionable resolutions directed at the Ministry of Agriculture to mainstream gender and ensure that women are empowered across all levels of the agricultural value chain.
The dialogue was organized by the Liberia Agricultural and Environmental Journalists Network (LAEJN) in collaboration with the UNIDO/Grow 2 Project, funded by the Embassy of Sweden in Liberia. The event attracted a diverse group of participants, including women farmers, leaders of agricultural cooperatives, civil society actors, development partners, private sector players, including key representatives from the Ministries of Agriculture. Gender and Commerce and Industry.
Throughout the day, discussions centered on the structural and institutional barriers that limit women’s access to resources, decision-making platforms, and economic opportunities within the agricultural value chain. Participants underscored the need for deliberate policies and practical mechanisms that foster gender equity, economic empowerment, and sustainable growth.
The event culminated in a set of bold resolutions and action points directed at the Ministry of Agriculture, aimed at transforming Liberia’s agricultural landscape into a more inclusive and equitable sector.
Participants strongly recommended that the Ministry of Agriculture work with financial institutions and development partners to develop and operationalize a dedicated financing mechanism tailored to the specific needs of women farmers and agribusiness owners.
The Gender-Responsive Agricultural Financing Facility (GRAFF) should provide accessible credit, grants, and guarantee schemes, featuring simplified loan requirements, flexible collateral terms, and gender-sensitive risk assessments. The aim is to break down longstanding financial barriers and increase women’s access to productive capital.
The Ministry of Agriculture was also urged to implement a national mentorship and capacity-building program designed to elevate women into leadership roles within cooperatives and farmer-based organizations.
The proposed initiative includes training modules on governance, cooperative development, and financial management. Moreover, a 50% leadership quota for women was endorsed to ensure gender-balanced decision-making within cooperative structures.
Another significant resolution calls for the revision of the National Agriculture Investment Plan (NAIP) and other sectoral policies to mainstream gender in their design, implementation, and monitoring processes.
This includes establishing gender-specific goals and indicators, allocating budget lines for gender-related activities, and conducting participatory gender audits and impact assessments to ensure policies are responsive and inclusive.
Representatives of women farmer groups also welcomed the outcomes of the dialogue. “For too long, we have worked the land without being seen or heard in the decisions that shape our work. These resolutions give us hope that our voices are finally being acknowledged,” said Monger Kebbeh, head of the Rural Women Structure.
The resolutions from the dialogue are expected to inform ongoing policy reforms within the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as programming by donor and civil society actors. The Liberia Agricultural and Environmental Journalists pledged to track the implementation of the agreed action points and facilitate ongoing stakeholder engagement to ensure impact.
As Liberia strives for food security, economic inclusion, and rural development, the outcomes of this policy dialogue present a powerful roadmap for a more equitable and resilient agricultural sector—one where women are not just laborers, but leaders, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers.
The onus now lies with policymakers, institutions, and partners to operationalize these commitments and ensure that the vision of an inclusive and resilient agricultural sector becomes a reality for all.
Development partners, including representatives from the Embassy of Sweden and the UNIDO/Grow 2 Project, commended the initiative and reaffirmed their commitment to gender-responsive development. “Empowering women in agriculture is not just a gender issue—it is a development imperative,” said Mr. Jenkins Flahwor, Embassy of Sweden
