Enhancing the capacity of women in Liberia

“I feel so fine and happy because I never knew the importance of myself as a woman,” said Viola Pewuee. “We, the women, learned how to care for our community and how to lead. We shouldn’t be afraid to talk among men. Many of us never knew how to express our feelings, even among our friends, but by now, I can even speak in front of large crowds.”

Viola participated in an empowerment project that ZOA initiated in Liberia. The representation of women in politics and leadership positions in the country is low. In 2017, only around 12 percent of parliament seats and only 6 percent of local government positions were held by women.

Efforts on paper fail to recognize women’s complex lived realities and the challenges they face in practice. Low levels of education, limited economic opportunities, poverty, the lack of support networks, and sexual and gender-based violence inhibit women’s ability to compete for and participate in politics on equal footing with men. Persistent social norms and traditional beliefs restrict women to caregiving duties in the private sphere, whereas men are naturally seen as leaders and decision-makers within and outside of the household.

AI is a positive approach that focuses on identifying and building on participants' existing strengths and successes. The AI process follows four distinct phases. In the discovery phase, the existing strengths and examples of previously achieved successes are identified. In the dream phase, participants think about their hopes and dreams and envision what a desirable future would look like for them. Next, in the design phase, participants think of concrete steps that they could take to realize this future. Finally, the participants work to realize their plans in the destiny phase.

ZOA piloted the AI methodology between 2019 and 2021 in Margibi and Grand Cape Mount Counties in Liberia, funded by Irish Aid and in collaboration with the Liberia Peacebuilding Office (PBO). In 2021, the Irish Aid project was extended until the end of 2022 and expanded to Bomi and Gbarpolu Counties. A Village Saving & Loan Association (VSLA) component was added to economically empower women alongside political empowerment. ZOA, in collaboration with the Angie Brooks International Centre (ABIC), started a similar project with funding from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (UNPBF) in Bong and Montserrado Counties.

In meetings, women contribute unique ideas based on the problems we face, said Viola. “For example, we can be vulnerable to infections, so we advise the men on how to build latrines hygienically. Or we advocate for the handpump to be cleaned because we are the ones that fetch the water. The children will be protected from malaria and diarrhea when we have safe water and latrines. So those are some of our contributions.”

Viola said that as part of her leadership, she can advocate for women and children. “Sometimes, pregnant women tell me their men refuse to give them money to plan for the baby. Men thought, ‘as long as you don’t see the child, you don’t have to buy things for them’. They just saw it from their own perspective. But we learned that when a woman gets pregnant, she should start saving money for the baby from day one. So I will sit down with the men and explain that they should give their pregnant women money, take them to the hospital for check-ups, and save money for the baby. That way, when the contractions start, they will be financially prepared. And, by the grace of God, the men follow my advice.”

Viola shared that recently, a woman came to her, whose man would not give her money for food. “He would wake up and go to the farm without providing for the family first. So I called them, and they explained their sides of the story to me. And I peacefully explained to the man that he has a responsibility in the home. And if he brings in some money, his woman will add her own money to it, cook for the children, and they will be satisfied. They listened, and both were happy and have been working together since.”

Like Viola, other participating women have shared that they became more involved in family decisions, started raising their concerns in town meetings, and established saving clubs. As a result, their families were healthier, more children went to school, violence was reduced, and incomes increased. Their testimonies portrayed that investing in equality not only changed the lives of the women, but also that of their families, their communities, and eventually the entire society.

Read more about ZOA's work in Liberia