By Rancy S. Teewia
MONROVIA, Nov. 13 (LINA) – The Ministry of National Defense and United Nations Women-Liberia have signed a 2-year project document under the Eslie Initiative Fund to support the recruitment of more females into the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL).
The agreement will enhance strategies to increase the deployment of female personnel in peacekeeping missions and support the upcoming AFL recruitment process, which aims to encourage more women to join the national army.
Specific objectives under the project include; increasing the number of females in the AFL, Providing pre-deployment training and alertness to female and male AFL officers, Increasing gender awareness and equality in the AFL.
The project will support pre-recruitment training for females, national recruitment campaigns targeting women, visits to secondary and tertiary institutions to encourage young women to join the AFL, establishing and equipping a pre-deployment training center, capacity building for the gender unit and developing a communication strategy for the AFL.
Speaking at the signing ceremony on Monday November 10, 2025, at the Barclay Training Center in Monrovia, UN Women Liberia Country Representative, Madam Comfort Lamptey avowed that the fund will facilitate recruitment messaging in all 15 counties, equip training facilities, and provide support to the MoD Gender Department, publication of AFL recruit applicants in newspapers and billboards, and digital training for female soldiers among others.
Madam Lamptey emphasized that the project positions Liberia as a model for the promotion of Women Peace and Security as the country gears up to sit as a non-permanent member on the United Nations Security Council.
“This project puts Liberia as a trailblazer for women’s presence and contributions to peace and security.”
The UN Women head thanked the Minister of Defense and the Chief of Staff for their leadership roles in this process and pledged UN Women’s continuous support to the AFL and MOD.
She further noted that the Human Rights test conducted on the AFL yielded positive results, leading to the approval of a little above $650,000 project for two years beginning January 2026.
The Country Representative of UN Women, Comfort Lamptey, also praised the Defense Minister for her efforts and promised continued partnership with the Ministry of Defense and AFL.
At same time, Defense Minister Brig Gen Geraldine Janet George (Rtd.), thanked UN Women Liberia for the partnership and assured that the Ministry of Defense and AFL will continue to work together to ensure the welfare of women in the AFL.
Minister Geraldine George also credited the partnership agreement to then Minister Daniel Ziankan and Chief of Staff Prince C. Johnson, III whom she said initiated the process.
At the same, the defense boss has revealed ongoing discussions with the Chief of Staff to consider future plans for an all-female recruitment drive, which will encourage more women to join the force.
The Liberia first female Defense Minister, pledged to lead the campaign during the upcoming recruitment exercise as a means of motivating young Liberian women aspiring to get enlisted into the Armed Forces.
Also speaking, the Chief of Staff of the AFL, Maj. Gen. Davidson Forleh, expressed gratitude to the UN Women and assured that the fund will be utilized effectively. Stressing that there will be exclusive pre-recruit training for females before the actual recruitment exercise.
It can be recalled in September 2022, the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), in partnership with UN Women Liberia, undertook a comprehensive barrier assessment using the Measuring Opportunities for Women in Peace Operations (MOWIP) methodology developed by the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF) to better understand the challenges affecting women’s meaningful participation in United Nations Peace Operations.
Identifying key areas for improvement, including increasing the number of female personnel, providing access to equipment and childcare services, and addressing gender-based barriers.