Liberia: Gender Advocates Push Scorecard to Expose Gaps in Government’s Gender Inclusion Policy - FrontPageAfrica

02 Oct 2026, 05:58 · FrontPage Africa Online

Liberia: Gender Advocates Push Scorecard to Expose Gaps in Government’s Gender Inclusion Policy

MONROVIA — Gender advocates are calling for the introduction and publication of a gender inclusion scorecard to measure the performance of ministries, agencies and commissions, amid concerns that some government institutions are failing to comply with Liberia’s National Gender Policy.

By Sampat JMB Kpakimah, contributing writer

The proposed scorecard would provide a mechanism for assessing how government institutions are implementing gender-inclusion commitments, identifying gaps and holding institutional leaders accountable for progress in promoting women’s participation in governance and decision-making.

The call was made during a day-long Sector Coordination Meeting held in Monrovia, a regular forum bringing together representatives of government ministries, agencies and commissions to provide updates and reports on gender-related activities.

The meeting was also intended to strengthen coordination among government institutions and promote a more holistic approach to gender equality and development outcomes.

The push comes after President Joseph Boakai endorsed the National Gender Policy and the inclusion of gender considerations across government institutions under the administration’s ARREST Agenda.

However, participants at the meeting raised concerns about what they described as gaps between government’s policy commitments and implementation within some institutions.

Some participants alleged that women and gender focal persons are excluded from managerial meetings and are sometimes engaged primarily when institutions need gender-related data for reporting to development partners.

Agatha Thompson-Venn, Gender Specialist and Communications Director at the Ministry of Information, said some government institutions are not giving gender issues the attention they deserve.

She called for the publication of institutional scorecards to make the performance of ministries, agencies and commissions on gender inclusion more visible.

According to Thompson-Venn, publicly reporting the scorecards would create greater accountability for officials responsible for implementing the policy.

She said the approach could also identify institutions that are falling short of their gender commitments and encourage corrective action.

Some Institutions Cited for Progress

Thompson-Venn cited the Civil Service Agency and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry as institutions that have demonstrated efforts toward gender inclusion, urging other government entities to adopt similar practices.

The proposed scorecard would allow institutions to measure their performance against established gender-inclusion standards and identify areas requiring improvement.

Assistant Minister Olivia Swen also urged women to take advantage of opportunities that allow them to participate in meetings and decision-making processes.

Swen said women who are empowered and actively involved in decision-making are better positioned to speak confidently and advocate for issues affecting their communities.

She encouraged women to be proactive in seeking opportunities rather than waiting to be invited.

“Women must seek opportunities to participate,” she stressed, emphasizing that representation in decision-making spaces is essential to ensuring that women’s concerns are reflected in government policies and programs.

Calls for Broader Institutional Reform

In closing the meeting, Deputy Minister of Research, Policy and Planning at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dorley, called for stronger institutional reforms and improved coordination among government institutions to address governance and policy challenges.

Dorley emphasized that government institutions must work together rather than address national issues in isolation.

He said effective governance requires collaboration across ministries, agencies and sectors, particularly on issues that cut across institutional mandates.

According to Dorley, recommendations emerging from the ongoing discussions are expected to be submitted to President Boakai and relevant government institutions for consideration.

He also stressed the importance of reviewing existing policies and regulations to ensure they reflect current realities and contribute to meaningful institutional reform.

Dorley further called for continued dialogue among government institutions, civil society and other stakeholders, saying reforms should be informed by evidence, proper assessment and the experiences of institutions and citizens across Liberia.

The proposed gender inclusion scorecard is expected to form part of broader efforts to strengthen accountability and ensure that gender commitments translate from policy documents into measurable action across government.

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Liberia: Gender Advocates Push Scorecard to Expose Gaps in Government’s Gender Inclusion Policy - FrontPageAfrica