By 
UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.
To promote the leadership and participation of women in all levels of decision-making processes, UN Women works with a range of stakeholders including women leaders and aspiring leaders, candidates, the National Legislature, political parties, media, civil society organizations, and electoral management bodies, in coordination with UN partner Entities, through a wide range of interventions which include: i) support gender responsive legal reforms, and institutional processes to advance women’s participation and representation (including initiatives to address violence against women in politics); ii) build capacities of women leaders and aspiring candidates; iii) promote change of gender norms through advocacy and outreach initiatives targeting communities, political leaders and the media; iv) and support women leaders in gender responsive political institutions.
Liberia’s record of having the first elected female President in 2005 in Africa and electing the first female Vice-President in 2018 has given the country a special recognition on the continent. This follows the outstanding role Liberian women have played during the civil crisis, which ended in 2003. Although Liberia has ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and its Optional Protocol; is a signatory to the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action; has ratified the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol), and has its own National Action Plan on Women Peace and Security in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1325, the country ranks 162 out of 187 placements on the IPU Parline ranking of women in national parliaments. Women occupy just 9.7% (10) of the 103 seats in the Legislature and 21% (4) of the 19 ministerial posts that comprise the Cabinet. In local government, from general town chiefs to county superintendents, women account for under 6% of leadership positions. Women’s representation and participation is also low in peacebuilding architecture and other decision-making for a.
Reporting to Deputy Country Representative, the Programme Specialist exercises overall responsibility for planning, implementing, and managing UN Women interventions under their portfolio. The PRogramme Specialist works in close collaboration with the programme and operations team, UN Women HQ staff, Government officials, multi and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring successful UN Women programme implementation under portfolio.
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