The Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development was founded to be a catalyst for change across Africa, by helping unleash its most abundant untapped power — its women. As the first democratically elected woman president in Africa, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf led Liberia from 2006-2018. Having been recognized internationally for her leadership, she is passionate about supporting the next generation of women in public life across the continent. Through a unique blend of programming, advocacy, and research, her presidential center seeks to become the premier institution dedicated to advancing and sustaining women’s public leadership and social development across Africa.

The Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development extends heartfelt congratulations to Rt. Hon. Helen Clark on her appointment as Chair of the Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance . A former Prime Minister of New Zealand and a tireless advocate for global health, Helen Clark brings decades of visionary leadership to this new role, guiding Gavi into its next strategic phase to expand immunization access, strengthen health systems, and reach the world’s most vulnerable communities. We take particular pride in the longstanding connection between Rt Hon. Clark and our Founder, Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, with whom she co-chaired the World Health Organization's Independent Panel for Pandemic Prevention and Response (IPPR) in 2020. Their collaboration exemplified the power of women’s leadership in shaping a safer, more resilient world. We celebrate this new chapter and look forward to the continued impact of her leadership on global health equity. Image courtesy of Gavi

Japan makes history with the appointment of its first female Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi. The Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development extends warm congratulations to Prime Minister Takaichi on this groundbreaking achievement, a defining moment for women’s political leadership in Japan and across the world. Her appointment reflects growing global progress toward inclusive governance and the recognition that women’s leadership is central to building stronger, more equitable societies. We celebrate this milestone and the inspiration it offers to generations striving for equal representation in all spheres of leadership. Image courtesy of The Associated Press

#AmujaeSpotlight Across governments, parliaments, city halls, and global stages, Amujae Leaders are charting new paths for Africa’s leadership future. Their voices are driving the conversations that matter most. This edition of the Amujae Spotlight celebrates powerful examples of their leadership: visionary, principled, and deeply rooted in service. Ps: Find clickable links to the resources cited in the comments section Emma Theofelus Aya Chebbi Charlyne M. Brumskine Adaeze Oreh Joanah Mamombe Dr.Yakama Manty Jones (nee Mara) Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE Fatou Jagne Senghore Gathoni Wamuchomba Roberts Bogolo Joy Kenewendo Farida Bedwei

Last week, Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf had the pleasure of meeting with 11 exceptional Liberian high school students who recently completed RENOVATE, an immersive youth development and innovation program under the Liberia Support Program (LSP), one of the flagship initiatives of the EJS Center. Implemented by TRIBE Liberia, a youth-led social enterprise founded by Wainright Acquoi , RENOVATE empowers high school students through tutoring, mentorship, professional internships, and hands-on learning. As part of the program, students designed innovative social impact solutions to some of Liberia’s most pressing challenges, including period poverty and waste management. During the visit, Madam Sirleaf engaged directly with the students, asking thoughtful questions about their projects, aspirations, and how they plan to apply the skills they’ve gained. She expressed her delight at their passion and commitment, and shared how heartened she was by their energy and vision for Liberia’s future. For the students, meeting Africa’s first democratically elected woman president was an unforgettable moment, one that further fueled their drive to lead, innovate, and make a difference in their communities.

Quality statistics and data for everyone. As we mark the fourth observance of World Statistics Day, we are reminded that high-quality, accessible data is not just about numbers. In a world facing complex challenges, from gender inequality to governance gaps, data is the foundation for evidence-based policies, effective advocacy, and accountable leadership. At the EJS Center, we believe that women’s leadership and gender equality must be driven by facts. That’s why we created the EJS Center Data Hub, a one-stop platform that brings together vital data on women in public leadership across Africa, from representation in parliaments and cabinets to leadership trends across regions. By turning information into insight, the Data Hub equips policymakers, researchers, activists, and citizens with the tools they need to track progress, expose disparities, and accelerate change. Data drives decisions, and with the right data, we can eliminate gender parity and accelerate #GapZero , a future where women lead at every level of public life. Explore the Data Hub today and see how evidence can become impact: https://lnkd.in/et9CqEnx

“Women should inherit property, not poverty.” When our Executive Director, Ellen O. Pratt , first wrote those words, she was serving as a Commissioner with the Liberia Land Authority. In an article published by the Chandler Foundation in 2021, which you can read here: https://lnkd.in/eGSH_mVt , she reflected on the injustice faced by women in Liberia who were denied access to land simply because they were women. In that piece, she paid tribute to our founder, Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, whose election marked the beginning of a new era, one in which women’s leadership could break the chains of poverty and exclusion. President Sirleaf’s leadership fundamentally prioritized women’s empowerment as a pillar of Liberia’s post-war recovery: she created the Liberia Land Commission, advanced legal and policy reforms, and laid the groundwork for a transformative shift in how land, property, and power are shared. That leadership paved the way for the 2018 Land Rights Act, enacted under President George Manneh Weah, which, for the first time in Liberia’s history, guaranteed women equal rights to own and inherit land. This landmark achievement remains a defining milestone in the fight against systemic poverty and inequality. Today, Ellen Pratt leads the EJS Center, the very institution founded by President Sirleaf, and her words remain profoundly relevant. As she noted then, and continues to champion now, legal reform is only the beginning. True change requires literacy, awareness, enforcement, and a cultural shift that recognizes women not as dependents but as rightful owners, decision-makers, and leaders. On this International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, we echo that message. Eradicating poverty is not only about resources, it is about rights. It is about ensuring that every woman has the power, ownership, and opportunity to build a future of dignity and prosperity. On the shoulders of market women: Honoring Liberia’s true nation builders on this International Day of Rural Women Across Liberia, in village gardens and roadside stalls, in bustling open-air markets and quiet farming communities, rural and market women have always been the heartbeat of the nation. They are the ones who rise before dawn to till the soil, feed families, build small businesses, and keep communities moving forward, often with little recognition but with unshakable strength. It is this strength that has shaped Liberia’s history. When our founder, Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf - herself the granddaughter of a market woman - stepped forward to lead, it was rural and market women who rallied behind her. They organized, marched, and voted, not simply to make history, but because they believed their daughters and granddaughters deserved a seat at the table. Their faith and solidarity helped open doors that had long been closed to women, paving the path that made her Africa’s first democratically elected woman president. Even as she led the nation, she carried their hopes and struggles with her; championing access to credit, building safer marketplaces, and expanding opportunities for women in villages and towns alike. Because she understood that when rural women thrive, nations move forward. Today, on International Day of Rural Women, the EJS Center celebrates them: the women whose labor sustains the land, whose courage fuels progress, and whose leadership, often unseen, transforms communities, countries, and futures. 🎥 : Throwback courtesy of WE.org via YouTube

We join the world in celebrating María Corina Machado, awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her unwavering fight for democracy, human rights, and a peaceful transition of power in Venezuela. The Nobel Committee recognized her for her “tireless work promoting democratic rights” and her steadfast struggle “to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.” Our founder, Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, herself a 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, has long embodied the same values of resilience, sacrifice, and unshakable belief in a more just future that this year’s laureate represents. Machado’s recognition is a celebration not only of her leadership, but of the collective power of women who dare to reimagine leadership and transform their societies. At the EJS Center, we stand with all women who champion justice, democracy, and human dignity, for their nations and for the world.

Last week, the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development hosted an engaging roundtable with representatives from Liberia’s leading universities to introduce its Oral History Program and explore opportunities for academic collaboration. The Program is a flagship archival initiative dedicated to documenting the leadership and legacy of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first democratically elected female head of state. Through recorded interviews, transcripts, and curated archives, the Program aims to preserve first-hand accounts of her presidency for teaching, research, and historical remembrance. The roundtable featured interactive dialogue on knowledge preservation, archival collaboration, and how Liberia’s higher education institutions can engage with this important national memory project. In pictures: Scenes from the event: lively exchanges, shared insights, and renewed commitment to preserving Liberia’s history.