NATIONAL NEWS
MONROVIA – September 15, 2026: Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Gbeme Horace-Kollie, is demanding measurable and lasting results from the US$3 million Gender Promotion Initiative (GPI) 2.0, saying the program must translate into real improvements in the lives of women, survivors, young people, and vulnerable communities.
By: Kabina S. Kabah – kabinaskabah98@gmail.com
Minister Horace-Kollie made the call Monday, September 14, 2026, during the official launch of GPI 2.0 in Monrovia, urging implementing partners to ensure that the success of the three-year program is measured by its impact rather than the number of activities conducted.
She said women, survivors, young people, and communities must be able to see and feel tangible changes in their lives as a result of the intervention.
Funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund, GPI 2.0 represents a US$3 million investment aimed at strengthening gender equality, peacebuilding, justice, accountability, and inclusive governance in Liberia.
The program will run from April 2026 to April 2029 and will be implemented in Montserrado, Lofa, Nimba, Grand Gedeh, and Grand Cape Mount Counties.
The initiative will focus on increasing women’s participation in decision-making, strengthening gender-responsive justice and accountability, promoting inclusive peacebuilding and social cohesion, and supporting gender-responsive governance and transitional justice.
More than 40 percent of the program’s resources are expected to be channelled directly to Women’s Rights Organizations through sub-grants, aimed at strengthening their capacity in advocacy, mediation, conflict prevention, reconciliation, negotiation, and resource mobilization.
Minister Horace-Kollie says the investment provides an opportunity to transform Liberia’s national commitments to gender equality, women’s rights, peacebuilding, justice, and social protection into concrete results at the community level.
Meanwhile, UN Resident Coordinator in Liberia, Madam Christine Umutoni, has stressed the need to recognize Liberian women not only as victims and survivors of conflict, but also as leaders, decision-makers, and agents of change.
Madam Umutoni says women must be meaningfully included in national efforts to address the consequences of Liberia’s conflicts and advance accountability, healing, reconciliation, and sustainable peace.
GPI 2.0 is being implemented by UN Women, in partnership with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Liberia, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, and Kvinna till Kvinna.
The program will also support key government institutions, including the Ministry of Justice and the Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court, in strengthening gender-responsive planning, budgeting, accountability, coordination, and evidence-based decision-making.
The launch brought together government officials, civil society organizations, women’s rights groups, development partners, cross-border women traders, and other stakeholders.
Minister Horace-Kollie has reaffirmed her ministry’s commitment to working with partners to ensure that the US$3 million initiative produces inclusive, sustainable, and transformative results for Liberian women, girls, young people, and vulnerable communities.
