Long-awaited return to Liberia for Phase II of Localization on UNSCR 1325 and 1820

By Lori Perkovich, GNWP

Monrovia, Liberia February 28, 2016 – GNWP returns to Liberia after a long delay due to the Ebola outbreak that began in March 2014, two months after GNWP conducted the initial Localization workshops in Liberia. The World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared Liberia Ebola-free in January 2016.

The GNWP team is excited to announce the commencement of Phase II of its Localization program with workshops March 1-4, 2016 in Greater Monrovia, Liberia. GNWP’s Localization program is a people-based bottom-up approach to policymaking whereby local authorities, including superintendents, mayors, members of the traditional councils, community leaders, paramount chiefs, religious leaders, and other local key actors work with civil society to create a space for ownership of the implementation process, to develop policies and to shape relevant outcomes together.

The upcoming workshops conducted in partnership with GNWP member organization Women’s NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) begins with a two-day Writeshop March 1-2. Superintendents from Bong and Grand Bassa counties who participated in Phase I of the Localization program will finalize Local Action Plans for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) 1325, 1820, and the Liberia National Action Plan (LNAP) at the local level. The participants will identify specific provisions of the LNAP most relevant to the context of their communities, discuss practical application of provisions at the local level, and come up with concrete recommendations for implementation.

GNWP will gather Superintendents and Development Superintendents from the remaining counties March 3-4 to examine the LNAP on UNSCR 1325 as well as the outcomes of the previous two-day Writeshop, including a Local Action Plan that can be adapted for each county. The Superintendents will identify the provisions that are most relevant to their respective community context, generate concrete steps to develop and adopt Local Action Plans in all counties, and specify necessary follow up actions for successful implementation at the local level across Liberia.

GNWP and its members in Liberia thank the Folke Bernadotte Academy of Sweden for supporting this program in Liberia.