The implementation of the World Bank-sponsored US$44.6 million Liberia Women Empowerment Project (LWEP), the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection has concluded a three-day National Consultation and Stakeholders Engagement in Rural Montserrado.
Beginning on June 6, 2024, in Bentol City, the engagement continued in Todee District on June 7, and concluded in the City Corporation of Arthington on June 8, 2024.
The event saw the active participation of citizens, predominantly women, from the five clans of the corporation and surrounding areas.
Rural Montserrado is one of six counties targeted by the LWEP, which aims to empower women and girls. The consultation sessions were designed to ensure local communities understand how to raise concerns, provide feedback, and lodge complaints about the project’s implementation in their localities.
The engagements were instrumental in disseminating crucial information about LWEP, fostering a collaborative and transparent approach to the project’s implementation.
Hundreds of stakeholders, including members of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), farmers, fishmongers, cooperatives, religious, and traditional leaders, attended the sessions and lauded the government for the initiative.
However, many expressed discontent over past exclusions from similar initiatives.
“We have not been benefiting from some of these grants over the years. The big people in power have been prioritizing their personal interests while the local persons are the victims,” said Tenneh Wilson, a spokesperson in Bentol City.
Klubodo Gbo, the Traditional Head in Bentol, lamented that rural women often put in effort to brush their farms, but when benefits are distributed, they are left in limbo.
She highlighted the domestic violence suffered by rural women and expressed hope that LWEP will serve them adequately.
In Todee and Arthington, stakeholders cited division among citizens, lack of trust, sustainability plans, and transparency for VSLAs as significant challenges.
They urged the Project Management Unit (PMU) of LWEP to scrutinize recruitment processes thoroughly to ensure proper implementation.
Elton O. Kollie of Todee District emphasized, “Nothing is straight without law and order. Therefore, there should be rules and regulations put in place and must be honored by the beneficiaries, a robust monitoring, and check and balance before and at the start of the project.”
Stakeholders recommended frequent visits by LWEP to project sites to ensure beneficiaries use the grants appropriately and encouraged continuous training sessions for VSLA officials to ensure accountability and transparency.
They also called for a specific body to handle complaints against beneficiaries whose actions may undermine the project, advocating for swift and impartial investigations.
Cllr. Margaret Nigba, National Coordinator for LWEP, acknowledged the challenges highlighted during the engagements and thanked the stakeholders for their spirited reception and willingness to implement the project successfully. She explained that the Liberian government signed a five-year US$44.6 million loan agreement with the World Bank to empower women and girls, addressing issues like Gender-Based Violence and economic stability.
Nigba assured stakeholders that the selection process for grants would be transparent and based on merit. She emphasized that beneficiaries would not have to repay the grants but should use the funds for their intended purposes to help the government repay the loan through taxes generated from successful businesses.
Oliver Musa Lavalah, Economic and Livelihood Specialist on LWEP, detailed the grant distribution categories, including Individual Enterprises (IEs), Livelihood Groups (LGs), Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), and Producer Groups (PGs)/Farmer Based Organizations (FBOs). He emphasized that the project does not support activities harmful to the environment.
The National Consultation and Stakeholders Engagement saw participation from local government officials, including representatives from Montserrado County Electoral Districts and various townships.
They expressed gratitude for the initiative and promised full cooperation for its implementation and sustainability.
The US$44.6 million World Bank-sponsored project targets six climate-vulnerable counties in Liberia: Montserrado, Gbarpolu, Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, and River Cess. It aims to benefit approximately 267,200 people in over 750 communities, providing livelihood grants to 36,000 beneficiaries.
The project highlights positive social and community mobilization in addressing social norms, mobilizing communities, and pilots improvements to basic social services, basic services in health and education.
The world bank sponsored project looks at economic and social empowerment, strengthening public institutions and project implementation and oversight, funds management, coordination, and evaluation.
Aft Rural Montserrado, the LWEP will conduct similar engagements in Gbarpolu County, followed by the remaining targeted counties.
By: Blamo N. Toe/ Contributing Writer
