The Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank Management Company (YEIB-MANCO) and the Office of Diaspora Affairs (ODA) are exploring a strategic partnership aimed at connecting young Liberian entrepreneurs to diaspora investments, international buyers, and export opportunities.
The proposed collaboration follows exploratory discussions held on October 8, 2026, at the Office of Diaspora Affairs at the Executive Mansion in Monrovia, with both institutions identifying opportunities to strengthen micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and expand youth-led businesses beyond Liberia.
A major concern raised during the meeting was Liberia’s failure to fully capitalize on overseas demand for its indigenous food products, including palm oil, gari, dried fish, and pepper.
Participants observed that some products marketed as Liberian in diaspora markets are reportedly sourced from countries such as Ghana and Malaysia, highlighting the challenges local producers face in meeting international demand.
The proposed partnership seeks to help Liberian entrepreneurs close that gap through improved production capacity, packaging, branding, quality standards, and export readiness.
Under the arrangement being explored, ODA could leverage its networks of Liberians abroad to connect youth-led businesses with investors, distributors, professional mentors, and international buyers, while YEIB-MANCO would contribute its enterprise development and financing mechanisms.
Potential areas of cooperation include diaspora-backed investments, business mentorship, professional skills transfer, business-to-business connections, export development, trade facilitation, and the promotion of Liberian enterprises on international platforms.
The institutions also discussed linking the proposed collaboration to ODA’s planned Diaspora Professional Service Corps (DPSC) and iLiberia digital platform, which are intended to connect diaspora expertise and resources with opportunities in Liberia.
The upcoming 2026 Diaspora Annual Return was also identified as a potential platform for showcasing eligible Liberian businesses and connecting entrepreneurs with diaspora investors and business partners.
Despite the opportunities outlined, the discussions remain exploratory, with no finalized partnership announced.
To advance the process, the institutions agreed to pursue the drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and identify areas where YEIB-MANCO’s existing programs and budget lines could align with ODA’s activities.
The proposed partnership comes as an opportunity to address longstanding challenges confronting local entrepreneurs, particularly access to financing, technical expertise, and markets beyond Liberia.
Whether the initiative will translate into concrete investment commitments, increased exports, and jobs for young people will depend on the implementation of the proposed framework.
The meeting brought together ODA Head Erasmus Williams and Chief Administrative Officer Emmanuel B. Kollie, alongside YEIB-MANCO Chief Executive Officer Joseph Fatorma Sando, Director for Enterprise Development Hillary B. David, and YEIB-AfDB Project Coordinator Marcus B. Zarway.
