Duarzon, Margibi County/03/07/2025: On March 8, 2025, International Women’s Day (IWD), the Sustainable Development Institute (SDI) calls for concerted commitment to empowering women in land and natural resource governance.
Founded in 2002, SDI's work aims to create space for the participation of local communities in decision-making processes on natural resources. The organization’s mission is to transform decision-making processes of natural resource management, so the benefits are shared equally.
This year’s theme, 'Accelerate Action', resonates deeply with our mission to collaborate with local communities and foster gender equity in environmental governance. It is also a call to acknowledge strategies, resources, and activities that positively impact women's advancement, and to support and elevate their implementation.
We are cognizant that women play a critical role in managing natural resources, but still face some challenges in accessing land rights, decision-making processes, and financial resources. To address these disparities, the Sustainable Development Institute has initiated a series of activities designed to enhance women’s participation and leadership in sustainable development initiatives.
As we celebrate the achievements of women worldwide, we urge all stakeholders, governments, NGOs, businesses, and individuals to join forces in supporting women’s empowerment in environmental governance. Addressing gender inequalities not only benefits women, but enhances the resilience and sustainability of entire communities in the face of climate change. By promoting women’s leadership, we can create a more just and resilient world.
ABOUT SDI:
The Sustainable Development Institute (SDI) was founded in 2002. It is the Liberian charter of Friends of the Earth (FoE), the world’s largest grassroots environmental network. SDI is also an alliance member of the Green Livelihoods Alliance (GLA), representing the African continent and member of the International Land Coalition (ILC), a global alliance of civil society and farmers’ organizations, United Nations’ agencies, NGOs, and research institutes promoting secure and equitable access to and control over land for poor women and men through advocacy, dialogue, knowledge sharing, and capacity building.
SDI received the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize for outstanding environmental achievements in Africa in 2006. SDI works to transform decision-making processes of natural resource management, so the benefits are shared equally. SDI work aims to create space for the participation of local communities in decision-making processes on natural resources.