Foreign Affairs, UN Women Dialogue on Gender-Responsive Foreign Policy | News

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia (MFA) in partnership with UN Women Liberia convened a high-level Stakeholder Dialogue on Liberia’s Draft Gender-Responsive Foreign Policy (GRFP) Strategy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia.

The dialogue brought together representatives from government institutions, civil society organizations, development partners, and other key stakeholders to review and validate the draft strategy that will serve as Liberia’s overarching framework for gender-responsive diplomacy.

During the meeting, the lead consultant, Dr. Tanya Ansahta Garnett presented an overview of the strategy’s vision, guiding principles, strategic pillars, targets, and implementation framework. Once adopted, the strategy is expected to position Liberia among the first African nations to formally adopt a Gender-Responsive Foreign Policy.

The proposed policy framework advances a gender-transformative and intersectional approach to foreign policy, emphasizing the integration of gender equality, human rights, justice, and the empowerment of women and girls across all domains of diplomacy and international engagement. The strategy also underscores the importance of collaboration with feminist civil society organizations and movements.

Under the leadership of MFA, in close coordination with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and with technical support from UN Women, the Government of Liberia embarked on a structured process to develop the GRFP. Foundational milestones included the completion of a Gender Assessment for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the development of a GRFP Roadmap.

Liberia’s leadership in advancing feminist diplomacy has further been reinforced through its membership in the global Feminist Foreign Policy+ Group, extensive national consultations with government institutions, civil society organizations, and development partners, as well as active participation in the African Union High-Level Meeting on Feminist Foreign Policy.

These milestones reflect Liberia’s growing commitment to shaping a feminist and inclusive approach to diplomacy both on the African continent and globally.

Yesterday’s review builds on the GRFP Roadmap developed through an inclusive national consultation process facilitated by the MFA in October 2025.

The roadmap identified five evidence-based strategic pillars to guide Liberia’s journey toward institutionalizing a Gender-Responsive Foreign Policy:

• Human Rights of Women 

• Women’s Economic Empowerment and Inclusive Trade 

• Women, Peace and Security 

• Climate Justice and Natural Resource Governance 

• Women’s Political Representation and Leadership 

Speaking during the dialogue, UN Women Liberia Deputy Country Representative Madam Yemi Falayajo reaffirmed UN Women’s commitment to supporting the Government of Liberia throughout the process.

“What Liberia is doing today — building a Gender-Responsive Foreign Policy — is an act of great leadership. And it is precisely the kind of leadership the global gender equality movement needs right now,” she stated.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon. Jackie McCay highlighted Liberia’s growing global engagement on feminist diplomacy and the significance of the ongoing process. “Next month, in June 2026, the FFP+ Group will convene again in Madrid for the 5th Feminist Foreign Policy Conference – I am proud to say that Liberia will be there. And for the first time, we will not arrive empty-handed. We will arrive with a validated national Roadmap, a completed Gender Assessment of this Ministry, and a draft GRFP Strategy shaped by the voices in this very room today.”

The stakeholder dialogue marks another important milestone in Liberia’s efforts to institutionalize gender equality within its diplomatic engagement and strengthen women’s leadership and participation in shaping national and international policy.