Empowering African Women will Accelerate our Efforts to Reverse Land Degradation

Throughout my career, both as the first female President of Liberia and in my current role at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center, I have witnessed firsthand the incredible resilience, strength, and determination of African women. However, despite their invaluable contributions, women remain disproportionately affected by poverty, climate change, and land degradation. The time to harness their potential and empower them as catalysts for change is now and we must hold ourselves accountable to stop singing the same song and move into actionable and measurable tactics to achieve this goal.

The linkages between gender equality, land degradation, and sustainable development are undeniable. Numerous studies have shown that when women have secure land rights, they play a vital role in natural resource management, ecosystem restoration, and the preservation of biodiversity. Furthermore, empowering women economically and socially not only improves their own well-being but also leads to positive outcomes for their families, communities, and the environment. Women are the key to accelerating the pace towards reversing biodiversity loss and land degradation.