-Through corporate responsibility
By Jerromie S. Walters
The Liberia Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with UN Women, recently organized a Private Sector Dialogue focused on advancing gender equality through corporate responsibility by implementing the Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs), as part of this year’s International Women’s Month celebrations.
The Private Sector Dialogue, held on Wednesday, March 20th at the Conference Hall of the Liberia Chamber of Commerce in Monrovia, resonated with the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day – “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.”
The event offered a distinctive platform to delve into the importance of gender equality and investments in women and girls for the private sector in Liberia. It also sheds light on the tools and strategies available for private sector entities to enhance their collaborative efforts in promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls in Liberia.
During the dialogue, UN Women’s Country Representative Comfort Lamptey emphasized that investing in women is not merely altruistic but a strategic business decision with substantial returns. She underscored the need for the private sector to play a pivotal role in helping Liberia achieve its goals by acknowledging the invaluable contributions women make to the economy.
Highlighting that women-owned small enterprises constitute approximately 80% of all small enterprises in Liberia, compared to 57% owned by men, Lamptey also pointed out that women in Liberia still earn around 14% less than men with similar qualifications and experience.
By fostering discussions and collaborations through initiatives like the Private Sector Dialogue, stakeholders can work together to bridge these gaps and create a more equitable environment for women in Liberia’s business landscape.
With this, she emphasized the importance of closing the gender pay gap stating that the Goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) focus on gender equality and play a vital role in bringing together various stakeholders like governments, development actors, and the private sector to tackle development challenges.
During her address, she highlighted the significance of engaging the private sector in promoting gender equality and emphasized the positive impact of such efforts on advancing Liberia’s development agenda. She introduced the Women’s Empowerment Principles, a set of guidelines tailored for the private sector by UN Women, and the UN Global Compact in 2008, which would be further discussed in the conversation.
Commenting on the essentiality of the occasion, the UN Women Country Representative articulated that learning about the principles of women’s empowerment is crucial, especially for companies in Liberia. “Currently, only three companies have signed on to the government’s empowerment principles, and we hope to see more. By partnering with more companies, we aim to achieve the objectives of women’s empowerment principles and the National Action Plan for Business and Human Rights, which is currently being developed by the government of Liberia. Studies by the UN have shown that companies that sign these principles perform better on gender equality.”
Consequently, she urged all companies, regardless of their size, to cultivate a business environment conducive to the growth and success of women. She expressed anticipation in hearing perspectives from women in attendance, including small business owners and cross-border traders, on how to better support them in enhancing their businesses. She concluded by expressing gratitude to all participants for their valuable contributions.
From her end, UN Liberia Resident Coordinator, Madam Christian Omutoni, emphasized the importance of promoting women not just as a matter of human rights, but also as a strategic move for businesses. She highlighted that by investing in women, companies can increase profits and contribute to the overall growth and prosperity of society.
An inspiring example she shared was that of a 30-year-old woman from South Sudan who, despite having no background in construction, noticed an opportunity within a construction company. She identified a high cost associated with importing products worth $1000 and took the initiative to supply these products to the company, showcasing the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of women.
In a similar vein, Mr. O. Natty B. Davis the President of the Liberia Chamber of Commerce expressed the urgent need for investing in local women in the private sector. He affirmed the Chamber’s commitment to collaborating with more women to provide the necessary support for their success.
Furthermore, various dignitaries at the event emphasized the significance of access to capital for women in the private sector. They stressed the importance of empowering women with the financial resources needed to thrive in their businesses.
Representing the Gender Minister, Assistant Gender Minister Ophelia Kennedy stated: “Women are a significant part of our society, and we need to empower them to create a better world for all of us. Therefore, I would like to express my gratitude to the companies that are working towards this goal. Let’s continue to fight together and promote gender equality in the workforce.”
Kennedy: We acknowledge your efforts, and we believe that women’s presence should not threaten general equity. On the contrary, hiring more women can enhance your company’s reputation as they bring creativity, innovation, and public recognition. If you entrust a woman with a responsibility, she will diligently fulfill it. As a woman, I feel proud and grateful for your support. Let’s celebrate the power of women and keep working towards a better future. Please extend my gratitude to the minister as well.
She added, “Thank you for the amazing talk today. Your sense of humor was impeccable, and we all enjoyed it thoroughly. I strongly believe that everyone in the room agrees that having women in the workplace is crucial, and you’re doing an excellent job of managing that. Although some people might downplay this, I appreciate that you emphasize the importance of winning and involving women in employment.
