LWEP is a US$44.6 million World Bank–funded loan project aimed at strengthening women’s economic empowerment, promoting positive social norms, and improving GBV prevention.

On Thursday, November 28, a delegation comprising Gender Minister Gbemee Horace and World Bank Country Manager Georgia Wallace visited Nyehn Town in Todee District to engage with rural beneficiaries, women’s groups, and local leaders, all of whom are participants in the project.

During the meeting, beneficiaries explained how the project has positively impacted their lives through business support and livelihood skills training.

They added that the skills and knowledge gained from the programs have empowered them to better manage their finances and become more self-reliant.

“Because of the training we received from the World Bank and the Gender Ministry, we know how to manage our money and get more profit. Before, we were just selling without knowing where the money was going,” said the leader of one of the groups.

“We no longer depend on men to give us money. If he brings 50 dollars to the table, we will bring our own too,” she added.

While acknowledging the progress made, Gender Minister Gbemee Horace noted that there is still more work to be done to ensure the project achieves its goals.

“I am encouraging all of you to make sure that the grants received from this project are used wisely to benefit your children and other women like you,” she urged.

Madam Horace also used the occasion to share the Government’s message on the 16 Days of Activism, calling for an end to violence against women and girls. The team’s visit to Todee coincided with the observance of the month-long event.

Meanwhile, impressed by the testimonials from beneficiaries, World Bank Country Manager Georgia Wallace pledged the institution’s continued support.

The Liberia Women Empowerment Project is being implemented across six counties, including Montserrado, Bomi, and Grand Cape Mount, among others.

The visit was also attended by several implementing partners, including representatives from Plan International, Catholic Relief Services, and others.

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During the visit, beneficiaries 70 percent of whom are women, shared inspiring testimonies of how the project has transformed their lives through access to financial support, business training, and livelihood opportunities.

In his welcome remarks, Benedict Nyae, the Gender Coordinator for Montserrado County, noted that the LWEP is truly enabling women to transform their lives, thereby improving the wellbeing of women and girls across Liberia.

Empowerment through Grants and Capacity Building

As of the Mid-Term Review, LWEP has disbursed US $304,000 in grants to 88 women-led enterprises (WLEs) across six districts in Gbarpolu and Montserrado Counties. Village Saving and Loan Association received the highest share of funding (over 80 percent) due to their collective savings and lending models. Individual Enterprises received smaller grants averaging US $1,250, targeting women in tailoring, agribusiness, and petty trading. Farmer Based Organizations in Gbarpolu were supported to enhance small-scale agricultural production.
In addition, 878 participants (729 females and 149 males) benefited from pre-grant award capacity-building training, which covered modules such as Group Dynamics & Record Keeping, Grant Management, Climate Resilience, Financial Literacy, Environmental and Social Safeguards, and Gender-Transformative Approaches.

A Story of Change: From Two Pigs to Nine

Among the many success stories was Mamie Jessie, an elderly woman engaged in piggery farming. She shared how her business expanded from two pigs to nine after receiving a loan of over US $1,000 through LWEP.
“I was struggling with my pig business before, but the World Bank and the Ministry of Gender came and put a smile on my face,” Mamie said proudly.
“I’m not living in a concrete house yet, but my pigs are now sleeping in a decent place,” she added, noting that she has begun building a concrete structure to house her livestock.
Mamie’s journey reflects the broader success of LWEP in empowering rural women to become economically independent and improve their living conditions.

Gender Impact and Inclusion

The project continues to make significant strides in gender inclusion. Data from the mid-term analysis show that women constitute an average of 79 percent of all project beneficiaries, 2,619 out of 3,307 total members across supported enterprises.
In several communities, especially under the second batch in Montserrado County, some VSLAs are composed entirely of women members, reflecting strong local ownership and women’s leadership.
Government’s Commitment and Future Outlook

Following the field assessment and interactions with project participants, Madam Blossom Hodges, LWEP Coordinator at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved thus far. She reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring that women and girls continue to benefit from the project’s empowerment initiatives.
The Liberia Women Empowerment Project aims to strengthen the social and economic empowerment of women and girls, particularly in rural and underserved communities, a key pillar under the Government’s ARREST Agenda. The project runs for a period of four years.
Impact Beyond Frank Town
Like Mamie Jessie, hundreds of women across Liberia are transforming their lives through LWEP. The project is not only boosting household economic freedom incomes but also inspiring a culture of self-reliance, resilience, and innovation among women.

The Mid-Term Review (MTR), which commenced on October 20 and will conclude on October 30, 2025, serves as a critical reflection point for assessing progress, consolidating lessons learned, and identifying pathways for sustainability.
As the review continues across other project counties, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, in collaboration with the World Bank and service providers, remains steadfast in ensuring that the Liberia Women Empowerment Project continues to uplift Liberian women, strengthen communities, and advance gender equality nationwide.

The post Liberia Women Empowerment Project Records Remarkable Progress as Frank Town Beneficiaries Make Strides during Mid-Term Review first appeared on OK FM.

The bill, titled “An Act to Ban Harmful Cultural Practices in Liberia,”was recently submitted to the House plenary by President Joseph Boakai for consideration.

President Boakai is urging lawmakers to pass legislation that would put an end to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and child marriage, practices he says have negatively affected women and children across Liberia.

In his communication, read during the fourth day sitting of the House, the President stated that such traditional practices have long undermined the well-being of women and children, while also violating several international treaties to which Liberia is a signatory.

He cited key conventions, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Maputo Protocol, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

Opposition from Some Lawmakers

Lofa County District #4 Representative Gizzie Kollince is among those opposing the passage of the bill.

Speaking during Thursday’s October 23 sitting, Representative Kollince described the proposed law as “an attempt to eliminate tradition and an attack on cultural heritage.”

He argued that these practices have existed for generations and have helped shape well-cultured individuals, insisting that they should not be hastily abolished.

Kollince, however, called for a meeting with President Boakai to persuade him to reconsider his position on the matter.

Key Provisions of the Bill

The proposed legislation aims to:

• Establish penalties for violations,
• Provide support and protection services for victims,
• Introduce transitional measures lasting six months before the ban takes effect, and
• Mandate strong monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.

UNICEF Data

According to UNICEF, an estimated 141,600 girls in Liberia are married before the age of 15, while 518,400 are married before turning 18.

The organization reports on Female Genital Multilation also shows that at least 200 million girls and women worldwide have undergone FGM across 31 countries with reliable data on prevalence.

Public Reaction

As debates over the proposed ban on harmful traditional practices continue, many Liberians are closely following the proceedings, eager to see how lawmakers will decide on this highly sensitive national issue.

The post Lawmakers Clash Over Bill to Ban “Harmful Traditional Practices” first appeared on OK FM.

LEMCOL is an initiative co-funded by the European Union, IRISH-AID, and
the Embassy of Sweden as part of the Liberia Electoral Support Project
Plus, implemented by the Netherlands Institute of Multi-Democracy and
others.

A release from the group said the project intends to promote
transparency and Political accountability through monitoring the
performances of the Legislature.

These initiatives will be carried out collaboratively between the
Media and CSOs, the dispatch added.

The post 15 Civil Society Groups and Media Launch Legislative Monitoring Coalition of Liberia to Boost Transparency and Accountability first appeared on OK FM.

The disclosure was made during a Media Breakfast held in Monrovia to
commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the United Nations.

UN Resident Coordinator, Madam Christine Umutoni, said the new
framework, which runs from 2026 to 2030, highlights both Liberia’s
contributions to the world and the UN’s continued support to Liberia’s
development.

Madam Umutoni described Liberia’s journey with the United Nations as
one of mutual trust and partnership, noting that both have worked
together toward resolution, recovery, and reconciliation — from
peacekeeping operations to humanitarian assistance and beyond.

She also praised Liberia’s steady progress, noting that the economy
grew by 5.1% with a 5.8% projection in 2025, all of which are driven
by mining, agriculture, manufacturing, and services.

The Media Breakfast, held on October 15, set the stage for a series of
activities to be jointly organized by the Government of Liberia and
the United Nations throughout the month in observance of the UN’s 80th
Anniversary.

This year’s celebration is being held under the theme “One Liberia,
One UN, One Future: 80 Years of Partnership and Progress.”

Christne-Umutoni

Lawrence-Fahnbulleh

The post UN Unveils New Five-Year Development Framework to Strengthen Liberia’s Peacebuilding and Sustainable Growth first appeared on OK FM.

The decision to invite the health authorities followed a formal complaint filed by Margibi County District #3 Representative, Ellen Attoh-Wreh. In her communication to the Plenary, Rep. Wreh expressed alarm over the rising number of infections and the potential threat the outbreak poses to public health and safety.

Representative Wreh urged her colleagues to demand a detailed briefing from the Health Ministry and NPHIL regarding the current status of the monkeypox outbreak. She emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in the government’s response, citing that the public deserves accurate information about the situation.

The lawmaker further stressed the importance of clarifying the nation’s public health response strategy. She called on the health authorities to provide updates on awareness campaigns, case detection mechanisms, treatment protocols, and other preventive measures being implemented to contain the virus and prevent further spread across the country.

Ellen Attoh-Wreh Voice

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Cllr. Varmah, an international trade lawyer with more than two decades of legal advocacy experience, assumes the role following the resignation of former WABA President Ousmane Bouba Traore, who stepped down for personal reasons. Traore, who also heads the Malian Bar Association, cited conflicting responsibilities, including his leadership of a Francophone legal coalition, for his departure.

In an exclusive interview with OK FM in Monrovia, Varmah called the appointment a “victory” not only for Liberia’s legal community but for the entire country. “It is the first time Liberia is now heading a sub-regional professional membership organization,” he said. “It validates the work we’ve done nationally and signals our emergence in the community of nations.”

Founded in 2003, the West African Bar Association was born out of a need to protect judicial independence and promote legal professionalism in a region too often rattled by political instability, authoritarian rule, and human rights abuses. With headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, WABA serves as a watchdog for the rule of law across the 15 ECOWAS member states, frequently weighing in on democratic backsliding, judicial corruption, and access to justice.

Under Varmah’s interim leadership, WABA faces a mounting list of challenges. Across the Sahel, where countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have exited the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), democratic norms are eroding. In his interview, Varmah expressed particular concern about these developments.

“We are concerned about the ECOWAS Court of Justice—its decisions are not being honored. We are concerned about terrorism in the Sahel. We are concerned about democracy as a whole in West Africa,” he said, highlighting his intention to push for stronger adherence to legal frameworks across the region.

Varmah also signaled plans to engage with bar associations and governments throughout West Africa to ensure that “access to justice and the rule of law is enhanced.” His tenure, he said, would be rooted in collaboration and advocacy—principles shaped by his years of legal activism in Liberia.

The transition at WABA comes at a time when civil society across West Africa is increasingly under pressure. Military coups, electoral manipulation, and weakened judicial systems threaten the democratic gains made in the post-conflict decades.

Though currently serving in an acting capacity, Varmah is expected to lead until WABA convenes its next general meeting in Nigeria, where a formal leadership decision will be made.

Whether Liberia’s turn at the helm will translate into stronger regional cohesion remains to be seen. But for now, Cllr. Varmah’s appointment is being celebrated as a milestone for a nation long rebuilding its legal and democratic institutions after years of civil war.

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