UN Women pledges conducive business environment for Liberian women

Through the provision of grants to support women-owned businesses, UN Women is seeking to bridge the gap of gender disparities in workplaces in Liberia and to empower women economically.

By Kruah Thompson 

UN Women Representative to Liberia Christine Umutoni says her institution will create a conducive business environment for Liberian women entrepreneurs to facilitate their growth and expansion here.

She disclosed the plan this week during a gathering that included the president of the Liberia Chamber of Commerce, Mr. O. Natty B. Davis, II, as well as heads of civil society organizations and other government agencies.

Making a special remark during a workshop at the Ministry of Commerce, Madam Umutoni announced plans to introduce programs and provide grants to support women-owned businesses.

The plan aims to bridge the gap of gender disparities in workplaces and empower women economically.

According to her, about 80% of men own enterprises and businesses while women own fewer enterprises, making them less important than their male counterparts when they considerably possess similar skills.

She called for a collective effort to promote gender equality and empower women in the business sector nationwide.

 “We are trying to reassure the Boakai government the importance of women’s empowerment in workplaces and to see how to put competition on the man to be permanent,” she said.

The workshop aimed to devise strategies to address gender disparities and advance gender equality through corporate responsibility.

It focused on implementing the 2023 Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs) project. It brought together panelists and prominent figures such as Palmena W. Weah, CEO of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs in Liberia, Olive Saab, co-founder of Women in Renewable Energy (WIRE), and the National Chairperson of the Association of Women in Cross-Border Trade.

The four panelists emphasized the importance of gender-sensitive policies, the economic benefits of gender diversity in leadership, and the role of women-owned businesses in driving sustainable development.

These principles include gender-equal corporate leadership, workplace equality, health and safety, education and training, enterprise and supply chain development, community advocacy, and measurement and reporting.

Madam Gbene Horace-Kollie Sarah, Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, commended the Chamber of Commerce and UN Women for organizing the dialogue.