Mount Barclay, Liberia, July 22, 2025. In a significant step toward fostering equity within the forestry sector, the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) through its Gender and Social Inclusion Unit convened a one-day gender capacity training at its central office in Wein Town, Mount Barclay. The session aimed to enhance staff understanding of gender-related concepts and strengthen efforts to mainstream gender across all levels of the institution.

The training brought together FDA senior managers, technical staff, and representatives from the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, reflecting a growing institutional commitment to gender equity and inclusion.

In her opening remarks, FDA Gender Coordinator Madam Finda Fatorma recounted the unit’s journey, highlighting challenges the Unit faced in the past, including inactive membership, limited male participation, and the absence of a functioning gender desk. She emphasized, however, that the tide is turning. “We have made significant strides,” Madam Fatorma noted. “With revitalized leadership, increased member engagement, and the reintroduction of membership dues, we are gradually rebuilding a strong and sustainable gender framework within the FDA.”

Key presentations during the training explored critical themes such as gender roles, policy alignment, and national and international regulatory frameworks. Mr. A. Ndebewoile Borlay provided insights into the legal and institutional mechanisms supporting gender equality, underlining the importance of aligning forestry initiatives with national gender mandates.

Madam Nora Bowier, FDA’s Managing Director for Community, Conservation, and Carbon, praised the initiative and urged participants to carry forward the lessons learned. “Gender inclusion is not an event—it’s a continuous process,” she said. “Your participation today must translate into action in your respective departments.”

Closing the session, Madam Gertrude W.K. Nyaley, Deputy Managing Director for Commercial and Technical Services, called for collective ownership of the FDA’s gender agenda. “We must work together to make gender equity a reality,” she said. “It is only through shared responsibility that we can build a more inclusive forestry sector.”

The training marks a renewed commitment by the FDA to integrate gender considerations into its operations and policy-making. As the Gender and Social Inclusion Unit continues to evolve, its efforts signal a more inclusive and responsive approach to forestry management in Liberia—one that acknowledges the diverse roles and contributions of both women and men in sustainable natural resource governance.