As She Visits Women Beneficiaries Of Liberia Women Empowerment Project In Rural Montserrado
By Abraham K. Kollie, kollieabraham23@gmail.com
RURAL MONTSERRADO, Liberia – The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP), in collaboration with the Service Providers of the Liberia Women Empowerment Project (LWEP) at the welcomed the World Bank Country Manager during an important community visit to Zannah Town, Todee District in Montserrado County.
According to LWEP program Manager Abdilai Sherif, the purpose of the visit was to highlight the progress made by women-led businesses and Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLAs) that recently benefited from the Economic Support and Livelihood Grant program under the LWEP.
The Liberia Women Empowerment Project, supported by the World Bank, is positively impacting the lives of thousands of women across six counties. By bolstering women-owned businesses and enhancing community accountability, the project is laying the groundwork for sustainable long-term change and economic development.
Speaking during her visit, World Bank Liberia Country Manager, Georgia Wallen called for collective efforts to strengthen Liberia’s economy.
With a total funding of US$44.6 million, the LWEP is implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection in partnership with national and international collaborators. The project aligns with the government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, aimed at promoting inclusive, gender-responsive growth while strengthening the agency and resilience of Liberian women and girls.
LWEP Program Manager, Abdilai Sherif Mr. Sherif said that the grants are playing a pivotal role in helping women expand their small enterprises, enhance their incomes, and create better opportunities for their families.
The event featured community presentations, discussions with beneficiaries, and site visits to various projects, showcasing the transformative impact the program is having on the lives of women and their families in Zannah Town, Careysburg, and neighboring communities.
Numerous beneficiaries took the opportunity to express their heartfelt gratitude to the Liberian government, the MGCSP, and the World Bank for their support through the Women Empowerment Program.
Madam Musu Yarlon, one of the beneficiaries, conveyed her warm appreciation for the initiative, emphasizing its importance in improving her livelihood.
“I want to tell World Bank Thank you for your support, I was not working but I can now put food on my table,” she explained.
Among the groups highlighted during the visit were God Is with Us VSLAs #1 and #2, Loyalty Saving and Loan Association, Eat Some and Keep Some, Willekemah VSLA, along with individual enterprises, including Fatu Kolleh Business Center, Jessica Business Center, Kabbah Akoi Business Center, and Masue Business Center.
“This is an opportunity for the World Bank to meet the women whose hard work and determination are changing their families’ futures. We are proud to stand with them and to showcase the progress being made,” stated the World Bank Country Manager during the visit.
The Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection reiterates its commitment to fostering an enabling environment for collaboration and ensuring Liberia meets its national and global obligations to promote gender equality and women’s rights.
As Liberia continues to navigate its development challenges, the collective efforts of various stakeholders remain crucial in creating a more equitable and prosperous future for all its citizens.