INVESTING IN WOMEN, NRWP CALLS FOR GENDER EQUITY IN NATURAL RESOURCE GOVERNANCE
March 31, 2025
Monrovia: The Natural Resource Women Platform (NRWP) successfully hosted a high-impact webinar on March 10, 2025, in commemoration of International Women’s Day under the theme: “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress in Natural Resource Governance.”
This groundbreaking event brought together 45 participants, including grassroots women leaders, policymakers, and activists from Liberia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Kenya, Namibia, Tanzania, DR Congo and Cameroon.
Other are Representatives from NGOs and Alliances; WoMin Alliance, UN Women, Green Development Institute, Women in Mining and Extractive, Women’s Action Towards Economic Development, Alerte Congolese pour environment et les droits de l’homme (ACEDH), Fridays for Future (FFF) Green Advocates, ActionAid, Alliance for Rural Democracy, Sustainable Development Institute and CERATH Development Organization. Community Participants Western Liberia: Gba Foboi, Johnson Town, Ballah’s Town, Madina, Lain and Sackie town among others.
Community-based organizations: West Point Women Organization for Health, Village Development Fund, Lofa Women Argo Processing Group for Peace and Development, National Initiative for Resource Protection, and Progressive Youth for Community Safety Initiative to discuss strategies for enhancing women’s roles in managing land, forests, and fisheries.
The webinar highlighted the critical yet often overlooked contributions of women in natural resource governance while addressing persistent barriers such as cultural norms, financial exclusion, and limited legal knowledge. Panelists from Liberia, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, and Cameroon shared powerful insights into the common challenges faced by women in the sector.
In Liberia, as in many other African countries, women play a central role in land and resource management, yet they remain largely excluded from decision-making spaces. Customary laws and traditional practices continue to limit women’s land rights, while weak enforcement of gender-sensitive policies hinders their ability to fully participate in natural resource governance.
Similarly, economic constraints and lack of access to financial resources prevent many women from benefiting from the wealth generated by natural resources. Speakers emphasized the urgent need for investment in women’s leadership and economic empowerment.
Key recommendations included: Strengthening women’s collective action through networking and coalition-building, Investing in women’s capacity via education, financial empowerment, and mentorship.
Advocating gender-inclusive policies and ensuring their full implementation. Leveraging technology and innovation to enhance women’s access to resources and leadership. Promoting women’s representation in decision-making at all levels.
The discussions made clear that while policies exist, enforcement remains weak, and many women lack the resources and support needed to claim their rightful space in decision-making processes.
“Women are at the forefront of managing our natural resources, yet their voices are often ignored in policy and decision-making. It is time for governments, donors, and all stakeholders to not only recognize their contributions but to actively support and invest in them.”
NRWP calls on governments, donors, and civil society organizations to take immediate action by funding women-led initiatives, enforcing gender-inclusive policies, and ensuring that women have a seat at the table in all discussions on natural resource governance.
