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By MOA Communication Team
As part of efforts to promote gender equality in the agricultural sector and boost institutional capacity, the Gender and Social Inclusion Unit (GSIU) of the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) commenced a five-day Gender-Responsive Agriculture Extension Delivery and Leadership Communication Training for Regional and County Coordinators and Extension Officers.
Held in Buchanan City, Grand Bassa County, Phase One is part of the Liberia Women Empowerment Project (LWEP). The workshop is a key component of LWEP, which is led by the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection (MGCSP) and funded by the World Bank. It aims to promote gender equality, improve livelihood opportunities for women, and strengthen institutional capacity to implement gender-responsive programs in six counties: Rural Montserrado, Bomi, Gbarpolu, Cape Mount, River Cess, and Grand Gedeh.
In her overview of the project and training, Keturah Woods, GSIU staff and focal person for the training, explained, “This training is an important part of our efforts under Component Four of the Liberia Women Empowerment Project (LWEP), which is dedicated to strengthening institutional capacity within the agriculture sector,” said Keturah Woods, Gender and Social Inclusion Unit (GSIU) staff and focal person for the training.
Macy T.S. Wilson, the Director of the Gender Unit at the Ministry of Agriculture, emphasized the Ministry’s dedication to improving agricultural service delivery through continuous capacity-building efforts.
“The Ministry remains committed to promoting gender-responsive practices that acknowledge and enhance the critical roles women play in agriculture and community development. I encourage all participants to be fully engaged and make the most of this valuable learning experience,” Wilson remarked.
Key topics include understanding gender dynamics in agriculture, identifying barriers to women’s participation, strategies for inclusive service delivery, leadership development, crisis and change management, and developing practical action plans tailored to local contexts.
The training is split into two phases. The first takes place in Buchanan and involves 20 staff members from Montserrado, Margibi, Bomi, Gbarpolu, Lofa, Bong, Grand Bassa, and Grand Cape Mount counties. The second phase will be conducted in Gbarnga, Bong County, with 20 participants drawn from Nimba, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, River Cess, Sinoe, River Gee, and Maryland counties.
At the end of the training, participants are expected to return to their countries with enhanced skills and actionable strategies to promote gender-responsive extension services, improve community engagement, and empower women farmers to participate more effectively in agricultural decision-making processes.
As the Ministry of Agriculture continues to advance gender equality and build a more inclusive and resilient agricultural sector, it reaffirms its commitment to working with all partners, including those under the Liberia Women Empowerment Project, to ensure sustainable development outcomes for all.
