The Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank Management Company (YEIB-MANCO), established and financed by the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), is targeting at least 30,000 young Liberians for direct support and another 120,000 indirectly as it moves to turn young people from job seekers into entrepreneurs and job creators.
The initiative is designed to tackle major barriers confronting local businesses, including high interest rates, stringent collateral requirements and limited access to long-term financing.
YEIB-MANCO Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Joseph F. Sando, disclosed the targets on Thursday, September 24, 2026, during an engagement with journalists in Monrovia, saying the institution will combine financing with business incubation, technical assistance, and coaching.
Backed by the African Development Bank and the Government of Liberia, YEIB-MANCO plans to reach entrepreneurs across all 15 counties, with a particular focus on young people and women.
CEO Sando said beneficiaries will not simply receive money based on business proposals. They will first undergo training and incubation to assess their capabilities, identify viable sectors and strengthen their businesses before accessing financing.
YEIB MANCO will operate through a business development and technical assistance component, a guarantee fund and an investment fund, with support expected for sectors including agriculture, light manufacturing, logistics, technology and recreation.
“The scale of youth demand is already emerging,” CEO Sando said, with more than 640 applications submitted for just 50 slots under a pilot business development program. He said YEIB MANCO is also verifying businesses in Grand Bassa, Nimba and Margibi, while stressing the need for transparent and verifiable beneficiary data.
With Liberia’s MSME sector estimated by Sando to require about US$1.03 billion in financing, he said the institution’s immediate ambition is to build sustainable businesses capable of creating jobs and reducing the dependence of young Liberians on government employment.
YEIB MANCO exists to help small and growing Liberian businesses become stronger, more organized, and ready for the next stage of growth.
