The Liberia Women Empowerment Project (LWEP), a flagship initiative of the Government of Liberia, has received widespread commendation from beneficiaries for its impact on improving women’s livelihoods and self-reliance across the country.
Funded by the World Bank with US $44.6 million, LWEP is implemented through the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP) across six counties, Montserrado, Bomi, Gbarpolu, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, and River Cess.
To assess the progress made under the project, officials from the Ministry of Gender and the World Bank conducted a Mid-Term Review (MTR) field visit to Frank Town, Careysburg District, Rural Montserrado County, on October 21, 2025.
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.
