Access to public information remains critical for sustained citizen engagement and accountability in the delivery of social services, particularly within the mandate of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP).
In line with this commitment, the Liberia Women Empowerment Project (LWEP) continues to promote transparency, community participation, and inclusive development across its project areas.
Recently, LWEP joined the Ministry’s Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Division to provide updates on the disbursement of livelihood grants under Component Three of the project, which focuses on women’s economic empowerment.
To date, 88 women-led businesses have received 50 percent of their approved cash grants, with amounts ranging between US$1,000 and US$4,000, to strengthen and expand their enterprises.
Appearing as guest of the Tuesday, February 10, 2026, edition of the OK Morning Rush, Lisa T. Diasay, the project consultant revealed that in the coming weeks, the project will commence grant disbursements to 43 additional women-led businesses in Bomi and Grand Cape Mount counties respectively.
These interventions, according to Madam Diasay form part of an US$18 million livelihood support package designed to economically empower women across six counties-Gbarpolu, Grand Cape Mount, Bomi, Rivercess, Rural Montserrado, and Grand Gedeh.
Meanwhile, the GBV Department of the MGCSP has reiterated its call for members of the public to utilize the National GBV Call Center hotline 116 to report incidents of gender-based violence and ensure survivors receive timely and appropriate support.
LWEP, a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection with support from the World Bank, is being implemented in 498 communities across the six counties, directly affecting an estimated 267,200 people.
The ministry disclosed that the project is expected to positively impact the lives of 36,000 women, particularly those in vulnerable and high-risk communities.
Financed through a combination of World Bank (IDA) resources and funds borrowed by the Government of Liberia, the project represents a significant national investment in gender equality, social protection, and community resilience.
Beyond livelihood support, the ministry indicated that LWEP is structured around four interlinked components.
According to Diasay, Component One focuses on fostering positive social norms and addressing harmful practices linked to gender-based violence, while using the SASA methodology-Start, Awareness, Support, Action-adapted from East Africa, the project challenges norms that normalize violence against women and discourage GBV reporting.
She said community mobilization and stakeholder engagement under subcomponents 1A and 1B ensure local ownership and sustained participation.
Component Two strengthens access to essential services, particularly health and education. While Component 2A enhances community-level health services through training and capacity building, Component 2B targets harmful norms that prevent girls from remaining in school-especially in farming communities where girls are often withdrawn during agricultural seasons.
By promoting education for girls and young women, the project seeks to support long-term community development and resilience.
The ministry further revealed that at that the core of LWEP’s economic intervention is Component Three, which draws from the project’s overall US$44.6 million budget.
Grants are provided to individual women-led enterprises, Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), livelihood groups, and farmer-based organizations and cooperatives.
According to the ministry, individual enterprises receive US$2,500, disbursed in two phases, with performance assessments conducted before the release of the final tranche; while emphasizing that grant funds cannot be used for environmentally harmful activities such as charcoal production, logging, or gasoline sales, in line with the project’s climate-smart principles.
Additionally, before receiving grants, beneficiaries undergo community profiling, co-creation processes, and grant management training.
The project consultant stressed that applications are vetted by the Independent Proposal Review Committee (IPRC/APEC) and approved by the Minister of Gender, ensuring transparency and accountability, adding that early results indicate strong impact.
She, among other things stated that the project was initially piloted in Montserrado and Gbarpolu counties, where grants totaling US$405,000 have reached 88 women-led enterprises, benefiting approximately 3,200 people.
The ministry said one notable success is the Nora Giffler Business Center in Bokomu District, Gbarpolu County, which received US$1,250 as its first tranche and recorded a 55 percent growth within three months-expanding from LD$227,500 to over LD$515,000, noting that similar gains have been recorded across other communities.
Component Four of the project focuses on strengthening public institutions to advance gender equality.
“Through this component, LWEP supports the capacity of the Ministry of Gender and the Ministry of Agriculture, enhances the national GBV response system, and contributes to agricultural extension services. Plans are also underway to conduct a gender-disaggregated national survey to better capture women’s participation in Liberia’s agricultural sector,” she stated.
She intimated that to reduce household-level inequalities and mitigate GBV risks, LWEP adopts an inclusive beneficiary approach-70 percent women and 30 percent men.
Project interventions are strategically concentrated in GBV hotspot areas, including Bopolu, Grand Cape Mount, and Rural Montserrado (Todee), selected based on vulnerability, GBV prevalence, and livelihood insecurity.
Through integrated social norms transformation, economic empowerment, and institutional strengthening, the Liberia Women Empowerment Project continues to advance safer, more resilient, and economically empowered communities across Liberia.
