The Liberia Sustainable Management of Fisheries Project (LSMFP) has officially rolled out its Women Empowerment Grant in Montserrado County, aiming to uplift the role of women in the nation’s fisheries sector.
The initiative, funded by the World Bank, is being carried out by Conservation International, Liberia, with support from the National Fisheries & Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) and the LSMFP.
The new program will benefit more than 1,400 women in several counties, enhance their financial independence, and create sustainable economic opportunities. The World Bank has allocated $2 million for the initiative, with $1.2 million explicitly earmarked for grants to women working as fishmongers. Additional funds will be allocated for building capacity, providing smoke ovens, and supporting operational activities within the fisheries sector.
Lovette Seidi Sie, a Social Development Specialist with LSMFP, emphasized the initiative’s broader goals to support women’s transition from small-scale businesses to more formal micro-enterprises. The grant is part of Sub-Component 2.2 of the LSMFP, which focuses on empowering women while also promoting sustainable fisheries governance in Liberia.
Speaking at the launch event, Minister of Agriculture Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah commended the selected beneficiaries and encouraged their participation in aquaculture initiatives. Dr. Nuetah highlighted the importance of aquaculture and inland fisheries, both of which he noted contribute significantly to food security and women’s empowerment across the country.
Ruma Tavorath, the Task Team Lead of the LSMFP, reiterated the World Bank’s dedication to supporting women’s economic advancement in Liberia’s fisheries sector, emphasizing that empowering women through aquaculture programs would greatly enhance the country’s overall fisheries development.
William Y. Boeh, Acting Director General of NaFAA, noted the grant as an important milestone in building women’s financial capacity and strengthening the fisheries governance sector. He further stressed the initiative’s long-term impact on the resilience of Liberia’s coastal communities.
To ensure transparency and fairness, the LSMFP’s Coordinator, Atty. Abraham W. Dioh, outlined the comprehensive process used to select the beneficiaries. The multi-stage approach involved pre-selection, desk evaluations, and field verification, overseen by a panel of 15 experts from various sectors, including finance, enterprise development, and environmental safeguards.
The event, held at NaFAA’s headquarters, was attended by a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from the European Union Delegation to Liberia, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the Cooperative Development Agency, and the Environmental Justice Foundation.
