Feminist advocacy in the agenda for implementing Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development initiatives in Monrovia, Liberia

Abstract

abstract Literature has much to say about the socio-economic, and political, impact of civil wars on women. The Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) policy framework was designed by the African Union (AU) in response to the devastation caused by civil wars in post-conflict African countries. While contexts differ in each country, the framework provides a general outline of steps to be followed by an African country emerging from civil war, in pursuit of successful post-conflict reconstruction and development programmes. Of interest to this article, using Monrovia (Liberia) as a case study, is the extent to which the AU PCRD policy initiative recognises the agency of women as being central to the process, and whether it bolsters their capacity and access to discussion around the table. It proposes that feminist advocacy is a precondition to push for positions on post-conflict peacebuilding in which women play a key role. This in itself is contingent on the effectiveness of government mainstreaming of gender equality and women’s voice in policy and government. The potential of women as contributors to peace-making and conflict resolution processes and commitment to sustainable peace is not in question in Liberia’s history. What is missing in action is Liberian women’s presence and mobilisation around long stalled reconstruction and rebuilding. Drawing from a mixed-method research study conducted in Monrovia between April 2019 and April 2021, research found the AU PCRD policy initiative is ineffective, as it considers women on paper, in isolation from the specific context in which women can assert power through representation and voice, not only in participating in post-war reconstruction but in Liberia’s political decision-making forums. Wider social gender power imbalances and inequalities experienced by women are directly linked to their lack of presence and visibility in driving the peace, security and reconstruction processes. There is a need to be able to demand accountability in the commitment to post-war reconstruction. As major stakeholders in the post-conflict reconstruction programme, women should be at the top of Liberia’s reconstruction programme, consistent with the AU PCRD framework agenda objectives.