Staff Report
The chairperson of the Women Legislative Caucus of Liberia says the group has received one million United States Dollars (US$1M) to fund a comprehensive women empowerment initiative in several counties in the country.
The disclosure was made by the Margibi County District #: 3 Representative, Ellen Attoh Wreh on October 1, 2025, in Kakaka while in an interview with reporters.
The lawmaker explained that the funding was secured in 2024 through collaboration with the United Nations Women (UN Women) after a strategic meeting held in the United States with partners from South-South Corporation, a representation of South Africa, India, and Brazil.
She said the UN Women has the responsibility to identify partner organizations that will implement the program through targeted training activities for women in Liberia.
The only female lawmaker in Magibi added that the empowerment project is meant to be implemented in phases around three months and will cover several counties including Grand Bassa, Margibi, Montserrado Gbarpolu and Bong Counties amongst others.
The rotational approach phase of the project according to her is intended to systematically engage communities and enable public awareness throughout the rollout period.
Rep. Wreh maintained that the goal of the program is to transform the lives of participating women, making them independent, self-sufficient, and financially capable of supporting their families, including educating their children.
She referenced her own grassroots empowerment efforts that started in 2019 with little resources, which were inspired by a local survey highlighting the harsh realities faced by women working under difficult situations.
According to her, the UN Women has confirmed that the funding is being approved from its legal system, with the caucus expecting further updates shortly.
She sounded hopeful about securing additional funding in the future, based on visible success and transformation at community levels.
Addressing concerns about fund management, Rep. Wreh made it clear that the caucus prioritizes the actual impact on end-users rather than controlling the funds directly further stating that the focus remains on transparency and tangible empowerment outcomes.
She pointed out the issue of low representation of women in Liberia’s legislature, noting that the number of female lawmakers has remained stagnant since the 2023 elections—with only 11 women currently serving (8 in the House of Representatives and 3 in the Senate).
She averred that the caucus is committed to increasing this number by the 2029 elections, aiming for growth that does not simply replace women with women but multiplies their role in governance.
In an inclusive approach, she explained that while the funding is earmarked for women’s empowerment, training opportunities will not exclude men or youth who show interest in skill-building activities such as soap making.
“If a male youth in district #3 wants to learn and work alongside women, he is welcome,” she stated.
She also took the opportunity to apologize to constituents in her district who have not yet benefited from her personal empowerment initiatives, assuring them that the phased nature of the projects requires time.
The Women Legislative Caucus Chairperson spoke that she remains focused on sourcing donor funding and partnerships to improve the the effectiveness of her programs.
How be it, the Women Legislative Caucus’s meaningful step to lobby for substantial funding marks an essential milestone in Liberia’s ongoing efforts to empower women and promote socioeconomic development inclusively.
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