The Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection (MGCSP), under the Liberia Women Empowerment Project (LWEP) has climaxed a two day intensive training for media professionals in Gbarnga City, Bong County – aimed at advancing responsible and gender-sensitive reporting nationwide.
50 (fifty) Liberian media practitioners from 7 Counties including Bomi, Bong, Grand Gedeh, Grand Cape Mount, Montserrado, Gbarpolu, and Rivercess, benefitted from the training – reflecting the Project’s commitment to a nationwide engagement and inclusive participation.
Organized by Plan International Liberia – Lead Service Provider under the Liberia Women Empowerment Project (LWEP), the capacity building roundtable strengthened journalists’ understanding of the Project’s objectives and interventions while promoting gender-responsive, ethical, and fact-based reporting on women’s empowerment initiatives in Liberia.
The two-day strategic narrative sessions under the theme, enhancing responsible media engagement for women’s empowerment in Liberia, also seeks to enhance media professionals’ knowledge of LWEP’s goals and components, encourage responsible storytelling that challenges harmful social norms, and improve coverage of women’s economic empowerment, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) prevention, and institutional reforms.
Participants at the opening were enlightened on the comprehensive overview of LWEP’s five components, including efforts to change negative social norms and strengthen community engagement, combat SGBV, advance women’s economic livelihoods and skills development.
In addendum, the components advance girls’ access to quality education by increasing retention and completion rates, alongside strengthening resilient and gender-responsive health systems that protect and support the rights and well-being of women and girls, strengthen public institutions to advance gender equality, and reinforce project management, monitoring, evaluation, and the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM).
Implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP) with support from the World Bank, the media sensitization gathering “highlights LWEP’s strong commitment to transparency, citizen engagement, and partnership with the media”, a release quotes the project.
According to LWEP Communications and Grievance Redress Machanism Consultant, Lisa Diasay, by equipping journalists with the necessary tools and knowledge, the Project aims to ensure accurate, balanced, and impactful reporting that amplifies the voices of women and girls across Liberia.
The second day of the training according to the organizers, will focus essentially on gender-sensitive and ethical reporting, fact-checking practices, and the media’s role in promoting transparency and accountability in development programming.
At the close of the event, Journalists expressed satisfaction for gaining new knowledge in reporting on LWEP and other matters that impact women across Liberia.
As LWEP enters its second year of implementation, this engagement signals a strategic effort to strengthen media collaboration in advancing inclusive development and gender equality nationwide.
