On February 17, 2026, the Natural Resource Women Platform (NRWP) closed Day 2 of its intensive Zwedru training with a bold shift from savings and loans empowerment to rights-based leadership and frontline advocacy.
The day opened with women from Glio-Twarbo, Solo Town, Gaye Town, Tojallah Town, and Jellue Town electing a formal community leadership structure—Chairperson, Co-chairperson, Secretary/Recorder, Treasurer, Coordinator, and Religious Leader—creating an organized, accountable platform for collective action.
Using the “Strong Women, Strong Leaders!” toolkit, participants redefined leadership not as a title but as daily action: guiding families, farms, and communities toward the common good. They described themselves as team leaders who decide together, supportive leaders who protect others’ well-being, and community voices ready to drive real chang.
A key highlight was the “Right to Say NO” Legal Toolbox, which affirmed that women are not just supporters but central decision-makers in their communities. The session underscored the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) under global instruments such as the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and ILO Convention 169, which state that Indigenous communities have the right to approve or reject projects that threaten their lands, environment, and culture.
At the national level, women learned that Liberia’s 2018 Land Rights Act recognizes community land ownership and explicitly requires that women be included in decisions on land, mineral, and water resources—sending a clear message: their consent carries legal weight.
The training also confronted the daily realities facing grassroots women, including climate change impacts, cultural barriers, and local conflicts. Practical sessions on negotiation and conflict resolution equipped them to seek peaceful, just outcomes while preserving community unity.
Recognizing that sustained advocacy demands resilience, facilitators led a self-care session focused on protecting body, mind, and heart so women can sustain both themselves and the land they defend.
The day ended with an awareness session on International Women’s Day—its history, global significance, and the central role women play as stewards of their communities and every aspect of daily life.
For the women of Zwedru and surrounding towns, Day 2 was more than training; it was a public declaration that: strong women organize, strong women know their rights, and strong women say NO.
Source : Natural Resource Women Platform (NRWP)
