By Methuselah Gaye
Cestos City, Rivercess County – More than 5,000 people across 84 communities in Rivercess County are expected to benefit from livelihood support under the first phase of the Liberia Women Empowerment Project (LWEP).
To ensure effective implementation, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection on April 22 launched an eight-day joint field monitoring mission in the county.
The mission aims to assess progress, identify challenges, and recommend practical measures to improve project delivery.
The delegation is led by Deputy Minister Curtis V. Dorley and includes members of the project management team, officials from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, service providers, and implementing partners such as Plan International Liberia.
Project Coordinator Blossom Hodges said the monitoring exercise is essential to keeping the project on track and ensuring it meets the needs of its intended beneficiaries.
Rivercess County Superintendent Byron W. Zahnwea welcomed the initiative and reaffirmed the county administration’s commitment to its successful implementation.
The Liberia Women Empowerment Project is a nationwide initiative launched by the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, with funding support from the World Bank through the International Development Association (IDA).
The project has a financing package of approximately US$44.6 million in grants and concessional credit.
Launched in 2022, the project aims to improve the livelihoods of women and girls in targeted communities by expanding access to economic opportunities, promoting positive social norms, and strengthening government systems that support women’s empowerment.
Under the initiative, cash and livelihood grants are provided to women and vulnerable households to help them start or expand small businesses, invest in agriculture and food production, increase household income, support children’s education, and build resilience against economic shocks.
Nationwide, the project is expected to reach approximately 267,200 people in more than 750 communities across six climate-vulnerable counties.
About 36,000 beneficiaries will receive direct livelihood grants and economic support.
In Rivercess County, the first phase targets over 5,000 beneficiaries in 84 communities through cash transfers, business support, vocational training, and other economic empowerment programs.
Plan International Liberia, one of the implementing partners in the county, is supporting community mobilization, beneficiary identification, awareness campaigns, and monitoring to ensure assistance reaches the intended women and vulnerable groups.
The Liberia Women Empowerment Project continues to promote sustainable livelihoods and economic opportunities for women and vulnerable populations across the country.
