By: Ernest Kpehe Moibah |Bomi Correspondence
Tubmanburg, Bomi County|Monday, December 8,2025|The Ministry of Internal Affairs, through its Gender and Social Inclusion Unit (GSIU), has opened a landmark awareness workshop in Tubmanburg, Bomi County; bringing together representatives from civil society, local councils, the disabled community, and the Bomi Gender Office.
The initiative aims to promote transformative approaches for integrating gender perspectives into local development across Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, and Gbarpolu Counties.
Addressing participants at the City Hall, GSIU Directress Mrs. Cecelia J. Gould underscored a pressing national challenge: despite women’s pivotal roles in agriculture, trade, peacebuilding, and community welfare, their voices remain marginalized in formal decision – making spaces. She stressed that this persistent imbalance undermines governance, weakens development outcomes, and limits the potential of communities striving for progress.
The workshop seeks to bridge this gap by equipping participants, especially traditional women, community leaders, and local authorities – with the knowledge and tools to champion gender-responsive development. With Liberia’s National Gender Policy, GBV Roadmap, and Local Governance Act calling for inclusive planning, the training emphasizes translating these policies into meaningful action at the community level.
Participants will explore core gender concepts, examine how inequality shapes development, discuss strategies to address harmful practices and GBV, and strengthen their understanding of women’s rights and legal protections. The sessions also focus on practical skills such as gender analysis, inclusive budgeting, community engagement, and leadership development.
Mrs. Gould highlighted the vital role of traditional women—market leaders, peace hut members, mobilizers, and women in local councils whose influence shapes community norms but often goes unrecognized.
Enhancing their capacity, she noted, is essential for ensuring that local development reflects the realities and aspirations of all citizens.
Through dialogue, experience-sharing, and community-grounded reflection, the workshop encourages participants to challenge discriminatory norms, engage men and boys as allies, and commit to transformative change that strengthens equality and improves service delivery.
By the workshop’s close, participants are expected to walk away with actionable strategies, collaborative plans, and renewed confidence to serve as agents of change within their counties.
According to the GSIU, this marks an important step toward building stronger, more inclusive local governance systems where gender equality is not just a principle, but a driving force for peace, progress, and shared prosperity.
