Liberia: Women Marginalized in Customary Land Processes in Lofa Despite Legal Protections

Nov 17, 2025 | Korto D. Snowe
Liberia Daily Observer
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Women in Lofa County continue to face difficulties participating equally in customary land and natural resource management. This situation, according to Chapter 9, Article 36 of the Land Rights Act—governance and leadership—violates provisions that give all community members the right to participate in land-related decision-making.Of the 25-customary land-claiming communities recognized by the Liberia Land Authority (LLA) in Lofa County, 18 are still undergoing the formalization and boundary harmonization process. Seven have completed the process and received their deeds. Each of the seven has a Community Land Development and Management Committee (CLDMC), and three of those committees are chaired by women. However, these women say they are still not respected or allowed to fully participate in land and resource governance by some chiefs and elders.