By Lewis S. Teh
Integrity Watch Liberia (IWL) has embarked on a two-day gender-responsive budgeting and planning training for newly elected, and re-elected members of the Legislature.
The training is intended to strengthen and increase incoming legislators’ knowledge on issues regarding gender-responsive budgeting and planning, among other issues.
In an overview, IWL Executive Director Mr. Harold Aidoo said the two-day event is fully sponsored by its partner, the UN Women.
Aidoo said he was excited that IWL has contributed to the history making of the country, especially with the recently held 2023 presidential and legislative elections.
“I’m so proud as Liberian that all of us can sit and celebrate this historic milestone achievement that we have earned together as a nation,” said Aidoo.
He stated that IWL’s work focuses on three key issues which are cardinal.
Having worked with the Legislature since 2006 and followed its work closely, he said IWL is concerned that the rules giving the Speaker the right to appoint various committee leadership has the propensity to make the Speaker unaccountable to the House of Representatives.
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“As we get close to your certification, we like to bring this to your attention so upon taking your seat you will look into the need to reform the rules to address critical issues of democratic tenets,” said Mr. Aidoo.
He urged lawmakers to make use of the voting machines to enable citizens to know how their lawmakers vote on national issues that will be debated.
“We believe, not having a voting system that shows who vote on a particular issue will create doubt on your working,” he argued.
“This will also be in your interest because your constituents will know what all you have voted for or against.”
The IWL Executive Director explained that one of the main reasons they gathered elected lawmakers was to institutionalize gender-responsive budgeting by formulating separate budgets for men and women.
“What we are asking is to ensure that the national budget disaggregates on issues around gender,” Aidoo explained.
For the past years, Aidoo said IWL has been carrying on successful budget for different programs.
“As we speak, we just completed an extensive review of the 2023 national budget with key focus on its implementation from the gender level,” the IWL Executive Director noted.
He added that they identified that it’s difficult to mention the impact of the budget for people with disability, women, and men, saying all this is as a result of how the budget is being handled.
In remarks, the Chief of Party of USAID Election and Democracy Activity Stephanie Lynn thanked newly elected lawmakers for gracing the two-day training.
Ms. Lynn thanked the officials for gracing the workshop.
“We will love to start a new chapter with you as you begin representing your various counties and districts,” she noted.
Stephanie Lynn explained that they will be working with legislators who are keen on this process, hoping that following the two-day event, results will be seen when the lawmakers take their seats.
Speaking earlier, Harper District Representative P. Mike Jurry extolled IWL for organizing the event for incoming lawmakers.
“We want to thank the organizers of this event; gender-responsive budgeting is key and as such we must take it into consideration.”
