Empowering Through Gender Equality and Social Inclusion: The Kpanyan Production Protection Inclusion Landscape Initiative
Liberia, like many countries, faces challenges in achieving full gender parity and women's economic empowerment. The Kpanyan Production Protection Inclusion Compact has emerged as a community-based organization dedicated to promoting gender equality and social inclusion in the region.
Liberia, located on the west coast of Africa, has made significant progress in promoting gender equality in recent years. However, like many countries, it continues to face challenges in achieving full gender parity. Women in Liberia face challenges in accessing economic opportunities and resources. Limited access to credit, land ownership, and entrepreneurial support pose barriers to women’s economic empowerment.
Kpanyan Production Protection Inclusion Compact
To promote women’s economic participation and increase their access to finance and markets, the Kpanyan Production Protection Inclusion Compact came together as a community-based organization comprising various stakeholders, including local government officials (District Superintendent and Commissioners), Kpanyan Community Land Development and Management Committee (CLDMC), Community Forest Management Body, youth and women leaders, NGOs, and private sector entities in the region. The CLDMC is working with the PPI Compact to ensure that all stakeholder groups are actively participating in the efforts to manage the community’s land and natural resources in a sustainable manner.
Transforming Power Dynamics
Taking the gender perspective and social inclusion into account, the project has significantly transformed power dynamics within the community by establishing a balanced representation within the CLDMC. With an equal distribution of 50% women and 50% men, as well as equal inclusion of youth and elders, a major shift has occurred. This shift has provided opportunities for women and girls to actively participate and contribute to decision-making. They have assumed management roles in the community agro-processing hubs, empowering them further. Now, women and girls have a rightful place in decision-making regarding critical community resources, including land ownership and cultivation.