Africa-Press – Liberia. Annie Smith of the Welekamah Savings Group said the support helped her expand her oil business significantly. “Before, I was struggling with my oil business. I had only one tin of oil to sell, but since I took a loan from the group, my business has grown to the point that I can now sell from 10 tins upward. I am very thankful for this.”
Beneficiaries of the Liberia Women Empowerment Project (LWEP) in Goba Town, Todee District, Montserrado County are already reporting visible improvements in their income-generating activities and household livelihoods, just four months after the start of community-level engagements.
Women in the community, organized into village savings and loan associations (VSLAs), say the project has begun transforming their lives through access to small loans and grants that are helping them expand their businesses, support their families and restore dignity and stability in their homes.
Goba Town, located along the road to Nyen Town, the administrative seat of Todee District, has a population of 788 residents, including 427 males and 361 females, according to the 2022 LISGIS Census.
In the absence of financial institutions in many rural communities, women in Goba have long relied on savings groups to pool limited resources and provide small loans to members.
These village savings and loan associations have become a vital tool for promoting economic resilience, unity and entrepreneurship among women in rural Liberia.
A total of six VSLAs in Goba Town, with 150 members, including 127 women, are among the 159 VSLAs nationwide that have already received the first tranche of funding representing 50 percent disbursement under the LWEP.
The broader first-phase payout amounts to US$1.246 million, while the six groups in Goba Town are set to receive a combined US$46,000 in direct financial support.
The funds are intended to strengthen women-led businesses, improve household income and enhance overall livelihoods.
During a recent technical monitoring visit to Goba Town on Wednesday, March 25, Abdi Yusuf, Technical Advisor for Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship at Plan International Liberia, engaged beneficiaries in discussions about the project’s early progress and impact.
Women took turns sharing testimonies of how the initiative has changed their lives. In her welcome remarks, Madam Janet Bondo, Women Chairlady of Goba Town, praised the Government of Liberia and its partners for reaching rural women with meaningful support.
“This money you brought here is really helping us. Those who took loans from the savings are able to improve their businesses and help their families. There is peace in some of the homes in this town because the women are very busy with their businesses. We are very happy and we say thank you to the donors,” she said.
Several beneficiaries also shared powerful personal stories of economic growth and renewed confidence.
Annie Smith of the Welekamah Savings Group said the support helped her expand her oil business significantly. “Before, I was struggling with my oil business. I had only one tin of oil to sell, but since I took a loan from the group, my business has grown to the point that I can now sell from 10 tins upward. I am very thankful for this.”
For Dorcas Salla of the Goba Town Saving Club, the impact has gone beyond business and into family life. “I am now relaxed. I see myself as a business owner and feel confident. I have peace at home with my husband because he sees that I am bringing in something. We are in harmony. This is what this project has done for me. I am so grateful.”
Another beneficiary, Ruth Andrew, said the project enabled her to scale up her business from retail to wholesale. “My business has upgraded from retail to wholesale. I took a loan to improve my business, paid it back, and then took another one to purchase more goods. I am happy that my status has changed and I am now able to pay my children’s school fees on time.”
During a recent technical monitoring visit to Goba Town on Wednesday, March 25, Abdi Yusuf, Technical Advisor for Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship at Plan International Liberia, engaged beneficiaries in discussions about the project’s early progress and impact
The testimonies reflect growing optimism in Goba Town, where many women face economic hardship and vulnerability that can expose them to abuse and violations of their rights.
Project leaders say the early success in the community is a promising sign of the LWEP’s broader goal to create sustainable livelihood opportunities for women across Liberia.
The Liberia Women Empowerment Project (2022–2027) is a five-year initiative implemented by the Government of Liberia(GoL) through the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, with funding from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA).
To ensure effective implementation, the government contracted Plan International Liberia as the lead service provider, working alongside six consortium partners: Catholic Relief Services (CRS), ActionAid Liberia (AAL), Medica Liberia, Defence for Children International Liberia (DCI), Foundation for Community Initiatives (FCI) and Kids Engagement Education Project (KEEP), as well as two professional service providers, Raising Voices and VIAMO.
The project is being implemented across six counties Montserrado, Gbarpolu, Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh and River Cess and is expected to directly benefit approximately 267,200 people in 498 communities.
Under Subcomponent 3B, LWEP specifically supports women-led enterprises (WLEs) through the Economic Support and Livelihood Grants (ESLG), an US$18 million grant fund designed to benefit 36,000 individuals through climate-resilient entrepreneurship and business expansion.
The initiative forms part of the Government of Liberia’s effort to reduce poverty, empower women, and improve living conditions in rural communities.
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