Gender Audit of Political Parties Launched to Advance Women’s Political Participation in Liberia

A Gender Audit of political parties was officially launched on Friday, April 25, marking a significant step toward strengthening women’s participation and leadership in Liberia’s political processes. The audit will assess how internal party systems, rules, culture, leadership structures, and resource allocation influence women’s engagement in political life, covering the 12 political parties currently represented in the Legislature.

The process was launched through a one-day introductory meeting that brought together representatives of registered political parties, the National Elections Commission (NEC), UN Women, UNDP, and other key stakeholders. The audit seeks to generate evidence, identify structural and institutional barriers, and support political parties to implement practical, results-oriented measures that promote inclusive political participation. The initiate is implemented in partnership with UN Women and UNDP, with support from the European Union, Embassy of Ireland, and Embassy of Sweden through the Liberia Electoral Support Project,

Speaking at the event, NEC Commissioner with Oversight on Gender, Josephine Kou Gaye, underscored that the meaningful participation of both women and men within political parties is critical to the success of the audit. She encouraged parties to leverage the findings as an operational tool to strengthen recruitment, retention, and advancement pathways for women in leadership.

NEC Commissioner with Oversight on Political Affairs, Boakai A. Dukuly, emphasized the importance of collective responsibility in advancing gender equality, calling for increased solidarity among men and women to support female candidates. He noted that evidence consistently shows that when more women are nominated, more women are elected.

UNDP LESP Political Campaign Finance Specialist, Cllr. Aagon Tingba, reaffirmed that inclusive governance is central to democratic consolidation. He highlighted that equal participation of women is not only a rights-based imperative but also essential for the legitimacy and effectiveness of democratic institutions, and reiterated UNDP Liberia’s commitment to supporting the process.

UN Women, in its remarks, noted that despite sustained commitments, women remain underrepresented in the Legislature, with persistently low levels of female candidacy. This trend reflects deeper structural barriers that require targeted and evidence-based interventions. The gender audit is designed as a diagnostic and capacity development process to identify what is working, where gaps remain, and how support can be more strategically aligned to advance women’s leadership within political parties.

The audit will produce baseline data, review party statutes and policies, and identify institutional and socio-political constraints affecting women’s participation. Where readiness is established, participating parties will be supported to develop Gender Action Plans to guide internal reforms and track progress over time.

The Liberia Electoral Support Project supports national institutions and processes to promote inclusive, transparent, and accountable governance. It is managed by UNDP and implemented in partnership with UN Women, the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy, and the NEC, with support from the European Union, Ireland, and Sweden.