Gbarnga City, Bong County: The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) has commenced a two-day training workshop aimed at empowering women and addressing gender-based violence (GBV) for Gender County Coordinators and Social Workers in Gbarnga, Bong County.
This significant workshop, which has gathered Gender County Coordinators and Social Workers from all 15 counties of Liberia, is part of Component 4 of the US$44.6 million World Bank-sponsored Liberia Women Empowerment Project (LWEP). The workshop features collaborative brainstorming sessions and group presentations to foster knowledge sharing.
Kicking off on Wednesday, December 4, the workshop will culminate on Thursday, December 5, 2024, as part of the ongoing implementation of the Liberia Women Empowerment Project (LWEP) by the MoGCSP.
The training’s objectives are to transform traditional views on gender roles, challenge stereotypes, and foster a more equitable environment in service delivery. Additionally, it aims to equip County Coordinators with the skills to monitor, track, and evaluate project outputs, outcomes, and indicators effectively.
Participants will engage in gender analysis using established frameworks and learn about the GBV Referral Pathway, focusing on strategies to prevent and respond to GBV in both workplace and community settings.
In her opening remarks on behalf of Gender Minister GbemeHorrace-Kollie, Madam Grace T. Kortu, Head of the Women Empowerment Division at MoGCSP, urged participants to fully embrace the project and approach it with seriousness.
“This project should not be business as usual – it should be something that’s going to show impact,” she emphasized. She also reminded attendees about the loan and grant agreements between the Liberian government and the World Bank, highlighting the importance of these funds for project sustainability.
Madam Kortu stressed the training’s purpose: to unlearn, learn, and relearn about reducing GBV and empowering women. “Do not sit and say, ‘O, the project is not in my county.’ Your brother or sister could be in the next county benefiting from it,” she said.
The overarching goal of the project’s implementation across six affected counties is to empower many Liberians to become economically self-reliant and positively contribute to society.
“Let us be attentive and productive during our time here, as what you learn will go back to your counties to effect change,” she encouraged. She also urged all Gender Coordinators to train others effectively in their respective regions.
The WB-sponsored project aims to promote development for the government and people of Liberia, especially in hard-to-reach areas. “Our presence here should not be a waste; the project’s objectives must be reflected in our behaviors and work,” Madam Kortu asserted.
Regional Gender Coordinator Madam Viola Cooper-Teamahexpressed optimism about the training’s potential impact and commended the dedication of all participants. “This training is special – it’s meant to impart knowledge that you will carry back and not keep to yourselves,” she stated.
The initiative targets six counties: Gbarpolu, Bomi, Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Rivercess, and Montserrado, aiming to benefit 267,200 individuals across 750 communities.
Furthermore, the project seeks to foster positive social norms, enhance basic services in health and education, promote resilient livelihoods through community-led approaches, and strengthen public institutions to advance gender equality.
A total of 36,000 women are expected to benefit from the livelihood and grant components of the project. Under Component 4, the project focuses on building institutional capacity for gender initiatives in Liberia, supporting MoGCSP and the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) to better generate sex-disaggregated data and implement gender-focused programs aligned with the policies of the Liberian government.
