Approximately 98 political party leaders and members gathered in Monrovia on 23 October with a shared message of increasing women’s representation in Liberia’s politics requires action and not just commitment.

Convened by the Inter-Party Consultative Committee (IPCC), in cooperation with the National Elections Commission (NEC), UNDP and UN Women, with technical support from the United Nations Electoral Assistance Division, under the Liberia Electoral Support Project (LESP), the dialogue explored practical measures to strengthen women’s participation in political leadership ahead of the 2029 General Elections.

Although women constitute nearly half of Liberia’s registered voters, they occupy only 10.7 percent of seats in the Legislature, underscoring the need for stronger implementation of inclusive political reforms.

Opening the dialogue, NEC Chairperson Jonathan K. Weedor reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to promoting inclusive political participation, describing dialogue as essential to building trust, reducing conflict and strengthening democracy. 

Highlighting the role of the IPCC in maintaining a peaceful electoral environment and fostering consensus among political parties, Chairperson Weedor said, “The arrangement reduces conflict, prevents misunderstandings and fosters progress”.

Speaking during the dialogue, Chairperson of the House Committee on Elections, Professor Thomas Romeo Quioh, National Coordinator of the IPCC Secretariat, Gabriel Blamo Saydee Jr, and Maarten Halff, Senior Electoral Adviser with the United Nations Electoral Assistance Division, underscored the need for reforms that promote women’s participation in politics and decision-making. They emphasized the critical role of political parties in creating inclusive leadership opportunities for women, youth, and persons with disabilities, while noting that global experiences show that measures to increase women’s representation are most effective when adapted to Liberia’s constitutional and political context. 

The UNDP Inclusive Governance Pillar Team Lead, Stanley Kamara said political parties remain the gateway to elected office and therefore have a responsibility to create fair opportunities for women, young people and persons with disabilities. “Inclusive political participation is not a favor granted to women or marginalized groups. It is a democratic principle and a condition for public institutions to reflect the demographics of the people they serve,” he said.

The UN Women Deputy Resident Representative, Dr. Yemi Falayajo reminded participants that Liberia has committed itself to promoting equal participation of women and men in public life through international and regional frameworks. Falayajo said, “It’s not only about increasing the number of women candidates. It is also about ensuring women are placed in constituencies where they can realistically win and are provided the support needed to run competitive campaigns.”

Participants also reviewed findings from Liberia’s Gender and Social Inclusion Analysis of the Electoral Legal Framework. Presenting the study, UN Women Consultant Gerald D. Yeakula identified persistent barriers limiting women’s political participation, including challenges within party nomination processes, unequal access to campaign financing, exclusion from leadership structures and prevailing social norms. He called for stronger gender-responsive policies and practices within political parties and electoral institutions to create a more enabling environment for women seeking elected office.

During the dialogue most party representatives supported an enforceable quota backed by law. They agreed to take the decision back to their party leadership and proposed more engagement with party executives and standard bearers. 

As Liberia prepares for the 2029 General Elections, participants agreed that achieving greater women’s representation will require sustained commitment from political parties, electoral institutions, legislators, civil society and development partners to ensure that every Liberian has an equal opportunity to participate, lead and shape the country’s democratic future.

The dialogue was organized through the LESP, which is managed by UNDP and implemented in partnership with UN Women, the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) and the NEC, with funding from the European Union, Ireland and Sweden. The project continues to support electoral integrity, inclusive dialogue, legal and policy analysis, and initiatives that promote women’s leadership in decision-making and inclusive political participation.

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