Africa-Press – Liberia. Plan International Liberia, in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, has launched a three-day workshop to review progress and chart the way forward for the second year of the Liberia Women Empowerment Project.
The workshop held at the ST Nagbe Methodist church conference hall on Wednesday, brought together consultants, government officials, and consortium partners from across the project’s targeted counties.
The Participants reflected on the first year of implementation and began preparing for the midterm review scheduled for October.
In her opening remarks, Plan International Liberia Country Director, Madam Miriam Murray, emphasized that the project is not solely a Plan initiative but a government-owned and government-led program supported by the World Bank.
She asserted that Plan International Liberia, along with consortium partners CRS, ActionAid, FCI, DCI, Keep Liberia, Medica Liberia, and Raising Voices, were carefully selected to support the project’s implementation because of their expertise and strong presence within communities.
“This project is funded by a loan, not a grant,” Madam Murray stressed. “It is results driven we are paid for what we deliver, and we are accountable for the quality of our work. That accountability must remain at the forefront of our minds.”
Murray highlighted several priorities for discussion during the workshop, including stronger coordination among partners, improved monitoring and reporting, increased visibility of the Ministry of Gender’s leadership role, and enhanced community feedback to ensure beneficiaries’ voices guide implementation.
She also applauded the recent disbursement of small grants to beneficiaries, describing it as a “critical milestone that communities can now directly feel.”
Speaking on behalf of the ministry Gender, Deputy Gender Minister Atty. Laura Golakeh praised the progress made during the project’s first year but cautioned that more work lies ahead.
“This meeting comes at a critical time as we prepare for the midterm review,” she said.
“For those who have worked with World Bank projects, you know this stage is often referred to as the ‘make or break’ moment. We must carefully assess whether our activities are on track to achieve the Project Development Objective.”
The workshop held at the ST Nagbe Methodist church conference hall on Wednesday, brought together consultants, government officials, and consortium partners from across the project’s targeted counties.
Golakeh underscored transparency, accountability, and visibility as key to ensuring success.
She reminded participants that the project, expected to benefit more than 267,000 Liberians across six counties, is financed largely through loans that future generations must repay.
“This is not just about reports or workshops it is about people,” she emphasized.
“The lives of women and communities are directly in our hands. Every dollar and every partnership must be directed toward real and sustainable change.”
The deputy minister further highlighted the role of county gender coordinators, describing them as crucial to keeping the project community driven and responsive to local needs.
The five-year initiative aims to improve the lives of women across Liberia through economic empowerment, capacity building, and enhanced protection mechanisms.
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