USAID/OTI Liberia Hot Topics
March 2005
LTI Supports Female Participation in Political Process
More than 100 women from 13 of the 18 registered political parties completed five days of leadership training. With their new skills, the women will strengthen their effectiveness as leaders within their parties at both the local and national levels.
The primary objective of this grant was to develop the capacity of the Coalition of Political Party Women in Liberia (COPPWIL) to increase the participation of women in the October 2005 elections. The course covered such topics as organizational management, social mobilization, fund raising and campaign tools for women in politics. Theovosia Wah, from the Liberian People's Party speaking on behalf of the participants, noted that she was "more confident to go out into the real world of politics and do battle with the men to make sure women take a leadership in this country".
COPPWIL is working in close collaboration with the National Women's Forum, another LTI grantee currently engaged in "200 days of activism" as part of the count down to the elections. The new elections reform law states that at least 30 percent of elected positions must be filled by women.
For further information, please contact:
In Washington: John Gattorn, Liberia Program Manager, 202-712-4168, jgattorn@usaid.gov
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