Monrovia, Liberia – October 3, 2025:
The Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) has officially begun the distribution of livelihood support materials to beneficiaries of the Liberia Fight FGM Project, a three-year initiative funded by the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women.
Launched in October 2023, the Liberia Fight FGM Project is designed to empower survivors of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), former practitioners, and single mothers across six counties including Montserrado, Cape Mount, Bong, Margibi, Gbarpolu, and Bomi, through economic empowerment, awareness-raising, and collective advocacy. The project works directly in 44 communities to accelerate the permanent abandonment of FGM and other harmful traditional practices.
The materials being distributed include a wide range of agriculture, baking, soap-making, and small business start-up tools such as wheelbarrows, seeds, hoes, flour, sugar, butter, milk, spices, palm oil, essential oils, medicinal herbs, soap molds, protective gear, Sodium Hydroixde, Potasium Hydroixde, baking pans and etc. These items will support beneficiaries in establishing sustainable livelihoods, ensuring that economic alternatives are available for those transitioning away from harmful practices.
This initiative comes at a historic moment, following the announcement by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. at the United Nations General Assembly that Liberia has permanently banned FGM. WONGOSOL’s action is a direct response to this landmark development, providing practical empowerment for women and communities to make the ban a lasting reality.
Speaking at the launch of the distribution in Kakata Margibi County, Esther S. Davis Yango, Executive Director of WONGOSOL, emphasized:
“We recognize that ending FGM requires more than a legal ban, it requires sustainable alternatives for women and families whose livelihoods were tied to this harmful practice. By equipping survivors, practitioners, and single mothers with tools to build new futures, we are strengthening their independence and advancing the fight to permanently end FGM in Liberia.”
She further stressed the need to protect the rights of girls and young women who continue to face forceful initiation while schools are in session. She called for an immediate end to this practice and encouraged women to create more opportunities for their daughters to pursue education and development.
Madam Yango also extended appreciation to the county authorities and traditional leaders for their continued cooperation, which has contributed significantly to the progress of the project.
Also present at the occasion was Hon. Ellen Attoh Wreh, Representative for District #3, Margibi County and Chairperson of the Women Legislative Caucus, who stressed the need for commitment from the women beneficiaries. She urged the women of Margibi to ensure that the materials are used strictly for their intended purpose, empowerment and economic independence. Hon. Wreh cautioned that:
“This donation is not a political gesture. It is intended to sustain you, to improve your lives, and to set an example of how women can use opportunity to build a better future for themselves and their families.”
Hon. Wreh further thanked the UN Trust Fund, through WONGOSOL, for the continuous support and promised to constantly monitor and check in with the women to ensure the success of the program. She reminded the gathering that lawmakers cannot fully meet the many needs of citizens due to limited resources. However, through partnerships with organizations like WONGOSOL and UN Women Liberia, support can be mobilized to respond to the pressing needs of the people.
The beneficiaries themselves expressed deep appreciation to the UN Trust Fund and WONGOSOL for their continuous support. They appealed for WONGOSOL’s advocacy in helping them secure a permanent structure where they can sell their products, noting that such a facility would greatly enhance the sustainability of their efforts.
One single mother who benefited from the project testified:
“Before this project, I struggled to find food for my children and to pay their school fees. Since I participated in the skills training, I can now produce liquid soap and sell it. This has changed my life. I no longer worry about how to provide for my children’s education or daily meals.”
She added that the project has brought significant impact into her life and the lives of many others in her community, proving that economic empowerment is a powerful tool in ending harmful traditional practices like FGM.
WONGOSOL acknowledges the vital role of UN Women Liberia, which has been instrumental in championing gender equality, raising awareness, and mobilizing resources to end harmful practices in the country. Together, with the support of the UN Trust Fund and the tireless efforts of grassroots partners, this project is empowering women and girls to live free from violence and discrimination.
About WONGOSOL
The Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) is the largest women-led civil society network in Liberia, coordinating over 250 organizations across all 15 counties. Since 1998, WONGOSOL has worked to amplify women’s voices, end violence against women and girls, and promote gender equality and inclusive governance.
