IPNEWS: In a landmark move to strengthen gender inclusion in Liberia’s security sector, the Ministry of National Defense and UN Women-Liberia have signed a two-year partnership agreement designed to boost female recruitment into the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL).
The agreement, signed at the Barclay Training Center in Monrovia, forms part of the Elsie Initiative Fund a global program that supports women’s participation in peace operations. The initiative seeks to promote gender equality within the military and expand women’s leadership roles in both national defense and international peacekeeping.
Under the partnership, the project will focus on increasing the number of female soldiers, enhancing pre-deployment training, and strengthening gender awareness across all levels of the AFL.
UN Women Liberia Country Representative, Madam Comfort Lamptey, said the collaboration will fund recruitment campaigns in all 15 counties, equip training facilities, and introduce digital learning tools for female trainees.
“Liberia continues to be a trailblazer for women’s presence in peace and security,” Madam Lamptey said. “This initiative will not only empower more Liberian women to serve but will also position the country as a model for others as it prepares to take up its seat as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.”
Defense Minister Brigadier General (Retired) Geraldine Janet George expressed deep appreciation to UN Women for their continued partnership and reaffirmed her ministry’s commitment to empowering women in uniform.
“We are committed to ensuring that women have equal opportunities to serve, lead, and contribute meaningfully to the defense of our nation,” she stated.
Minister George also disclosed plans to launch a future all-female recruitment drive, encouraging young Liberian women from across the country to take advantage of the opportunity to serve in the AFL.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff of the AFL, Major General Davidson Forleh, pledged transparency and accountability in the management of the project’s resources. He announced that exclusive pre-recruitment training sessions for women will precede the main enlistment exercise to help prepare candidates physically and mentally for military life.
The agreement builds on a 2022 collaboration between UN Women and the AFL that examined barriers to women’s participation in peacekeeping and outlined practical solutions for greater gender inclusion.
Valued at over US$650,000, the new project is set to begin implementation in January 2026, marking a significant milestone in Liberia’s ongoing efforts to achieve gender balance and strengthen its national defense architecture.
