After 12 years leading Liberia’s National Elections Commission, Davidetta Browne Lansanah has stepped down, leaving behind a record many see as proof of the power of women’s leadership. As a bill aimed at increasing women’s representation in Liberia’s Legislature remains stalled in the Senate, advocates point to Lansanah’s successful management of two presidential elections, including the closely contested 2023 race, as evidence that more women should be given leadership opportunities. In this collaboration with New Narratives, Joyclyn Wea explores the ongoing struggle for greater political representation for women in Liberia and the debate over whether Lansanah’s legacy will inspire lasting change.

This story was produced in collaboration with New Narratives as part of the Investigating Liberia project. Funding was provided by a private donor and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. The donors had no say in the story’s content.