Minister Nyanti Urges Greater Role for Women in Liberia’s Solar Energy Transition

NEW YORK, September 23, 2026 — Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, has called for stronger participation of women in the country’s transition to solar energy, underscoring their potential to lead community-based renewable energy initiatives.

Speaking on Tuesday at a high-level side event during the 81st United Nations General Assembly, themed “Climate Resilience in Emerging Economies: Investing in Long-Term Security,” Nyanti highlighted the importance of inclusive approaches to tackling climate change.

The session focused on how vulnerable and emerging economies can strengthen resilience, expand opportunities, and secure long-term sustainability.

Nyanti outlined Liberia’s ongoing efforts to expand solar energy, including the establishment of solar farms and initiatives to broaden electricity access. She stressed that the transition requires not only infrastructure investment but also active community involvement, particularly from women.

“Women are critical to that because women are the ones who can take responsibility for having community-led initiatives around that transition to solar,” she said.

The minister noted that solar energy can be deployed through diverse models, such as small-scale household solutions that provide affordable power to low-income families.

These approaches, she explained, can simultaneously expand energy access and create opportunities for women to engage in income-generating activities, thereby contributing to local economic development.

Nyanti further emphasized the need to link renewable energy investments with women’s empowerment, pointing out that greater access to solar energy can improve living conditions for families and open new opportunities for young girls and women.

She concluded that Liberia’s solar energy transition must be designed not only to deliver electricity but also to foster inclusive growth and resilience across communities.