By: Staff Writer
Former Grand Gedeh County Superintendent Christopher Beh Bailey has called on women’s organizations across Grand Gedeh County to unite under a common platform, warning that fragmentation and rivalry continue to weaken women’s collective influence and slow community development.
Bailey made the appeal over the weekend while serving as guest speaker at the induction ceremony of Blolequin Sisters for Development International, held under the theme “One People, One Purpose, One Force.”
His address centered on the strategic importance of solidarity in amplifying women’s voices and accelerating socio-economic progress at the county level.
“Though you are members of different organizations, you are all daughters of one county,” Bailey told the gathering.
“You share the same roots, the same vision, and fight for the same cause.”
Unity as a Development Strategy
Citing Liberia’s post-war recovery experience, Bailey emphasized that coordinated action has historically delivered stronger outcomes than isolated efforts.
Since the end of Liberia’s civil conflict in 2003, women’s groups have played a pivotal role in peacebuilding, reconciliation, and local development particularly in rural counties such as Grand Gedeh, where access to resources and services remains uneven.
According to national civil society estimates, women-led organizations account for more than 40 percent of community-based development initiatives in southeastern Liberia, ranging from adult literacy and maternal health awareness to agriculture cooperatives and peace advocacy.
However, experts note that many of these groups operate independently, limiting their bargaining power with government agencies and international partners.
Bailey urged women’s organizations to consider forming an umbrella or “mother” organization to harmonize programs, pool resources, and present a unified advocacy front.
“Unity does not mean losing identity,” he said. “Unity means multiplying strength turning many small rivers into one mighty ocean.”
Warning Against Division
The former superintendent cautioned that internal competition and rivalry could undermine years of progress, particularly at a time when counties are competing nationally for development funding and donor attention.
“The future of the women of Grand Gedeh County cannot be built on rivalry,” Bailey stressed.
“It must be built on partnership, respect, and shared leadership.”
He noted that a united women’s movement would be better positioned to influence local policy decisions, attract donor funding, and ensure that women’s priorities such as healthcare, education, and economic empowerment are reflected in county development agendas.
Roots in Exile, Mission at Home
Founded by women from Grand Gedeh who returned to Liberia after years of displacement during the civil crisis in Ivory Coast, the Blolequin Sisters for Development International traces its origins to refugee communities that relied heavily on mutual support networks for survival.
Today, the organization focuses on women’s empowerment, community service, and grassroots development initiatives across the county.
Its leadership says the group aims to expand partnerships with other women’s associations to increase impact.
Bailey encouraged members to remain steadfast in supporting their leadership and mission, reminding them that organizational growth depends on cohesion and trust.
“An organization cannot grow where there is division, and it cannot survive where unity is missing,” he warned.
As Liberia continues its decentralization and development drive, stakeholders argue that cohesive women’s movements will be critical in ensuring inclusive growth particularly in historically marginalized regions like Grand Gedeh.
Bailey concluded his remarks with a rallying call for cooperation over competition.
“When we unite, no challenge can defeat us, and no force can ignore us,” he said.
Observers say the message resonates beyond Grand Gedeh, reflecting a broader national conversation on how women’s collective action can shape Liberia’s development trajectory in the years ahead.
