MAP Liberia Land Platform and Partners Launched National Gender Action Plan that Aligns with the ILC Gender Justice Charter

MONROVIA, LIBERIA: The MAP Liberia Land Platform with support from the International Land Coalition, a National Gender Action Plan has been successfully developed to foster gender justice within the land sector in Liberia.

The two-day workshop, held from 5–6 December 2025 in Monrovia, brought together government agencies, civil society organizations, and private sector actors to craft a strategic roadmap for integrating gender-responsive policies, programs, and projects.

Two years ago, the NLC, which is the coordinating body of the MAP Liberia Land Platform-made a commitment to promote equality and eliminate gender-based discrimination by adopting the ILC Africa Gender Justice Charter.

After conducting a 2024 gender audit that looked at both internal operations and external engagements, the coalition identified opportunities to strengthen gender-sensitive approaches across its work.

NGAP provides a complete framework to Promote gender-responsive transformation in policies and programs. Set measurable objectives to ensure accountability.

Guide systematic reforms to address structural inequalities.

Speaking at the opening, Mr. James Yarsiah, Executive Director of the Rights & Rice Foundation and National Facilitator of MAP Liberia, said that the NGAP was consistent with the ILC Africa Regional Framework and represented the third tier in the gender justice strategy of MAP Liberia.

Mrs. Comfort Sawyer-Baysah, a leading Liberian gender specialist, facilitated the workshop and emphasized a gender-transformative and intersectional approach.

"Gender justice ensures equal opportunities, rights, and fair treatment for all, with attention to inequalities intersecting with social categories like race, class, and ability. This is important for human rights, social development, and economic outcomes, particularly in land governance that affects livelihoods and food security."

The workshop yielded a draft NGAP with actionable measures, assigning responsibilities and budgets, as well as timelines for each initiative. Participants confirmed that the session had indeed delivered a practical and implementable roadmap.

At the end, participants recommended that, to have effective implementation, Finalization of the NGAP into an official document.

The Longer-running future workshops allow for in-depth discussions with participants, not getting overtired.

Participating Organizations: Liberia Land Authority; Rights & Rice Foundation; Foundation for Good Governance & Democratic Initiative; Girls for Excellent Performance; Organization for Women Empowerment

Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL); ForumCiv Liberia; Mano Oil Palm; Women Land Rights Task Force (WLRTF); National Association of Disabled Advocates (NADA);

United Disabled Women of Liberia (UDWL); Women Association for Transparency, Empowerment and Sustainability (WOATTES), Community Rights Support Facility (CRSF); Agro-Tech Liberia; Farmers Union Network (FUN); Journalists for the Protection of Nature (JPN).

The NGAP development underpins the commitment of MAP Liberia to the advancement of gender equality, social inclusion, and sustainable land governance in Liberia.