MONROVIA — The Liberia Women Empowerment Project has successfully concluded a three-day National Consultation and Stakeholders Engagement in the three electoral districts of Gbarpolu County, in preparation for the full implementation of the World Bank’s US$44.6 million sponsored project.
The engagement started in Bopolu City, Electoral District #1 on Monday, June 24, 2024; continued in Bokomu, Electoral District #2 on Tuesday, June 25, 2024; and concluded in Gbarma, Electoral District #3 on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. The sessions gathered participants from neighboring communities, towns, and villages within Gbarpolu County.
Held in town halls, the National Consultation and Stakeholders Engagement brought together local leadership from the three districts, including fishmongers, farmers, and members of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), among others.
The project will be implemented in six counties: Gbarpolu, Bomi, Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Rivercess, and Montserrado, targeting 267,200 beneficiaries from 750 communities. It aims to foster positive social norms, enhance basic services in health and education, promote resilient livelihoods through community-led approaches, and strengthen public institutions to advance gender equality. A total of 36,000 women are expected to benefit from the livelihood and grant components of the project.
The team has already conducted the National Consultation and Stakeholders Engagement in Todee, Arthington, and Bentol in Montserrado County before moving to Gbarpolu County.
Stakeholders expressed their gratitude to the Liberian government for selecting their county and promised full cooperation with the Ministry of Gender through the Liberia Women Empowerment Project for the smooth implementation of the project.
Musu M. Kamara, Coordinator of the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection for Gbarpolu County, thanked the government for the initiative, describing it as timely and a milestone achievement for the area. She urged potential beneficiaries to take advantage of the opportunity to improve their lives.
Stakeholders from Bopolu, Bokomu, and Gbarma provided several recommendations for the effective and transparent implementation of the project. Madam Jestina V. Dukuly, Bopolu City’s first female Commissioner, encouraged participants to maximize the opportunity and support the national government’s efforts to ensure the project’s success.
Gbarma District Commissioner Musa D. Kamara recommended that the Agriculture Coordinator be recognized by the Ministry to ensure a proper understanding of the sector, suggesting an assessment to identify real beneficiaries before any further evaluations.
Fatu Swaray, a farmer in Gbarma Town, Electoral District #3, urged project implementers to visit the field to ensure genuine individuals benefit, highlighting that some falsely claim to have farms or businesses to gain benefits.
District Commissioner John K. Korsee and Senior Paramount Chief Fredrick K. Massaquoi from Bokomu suggested involving local leadership during implementation, as they live and work with the locals and can help reach them quickly.
Hawa Patrick, a member of the VSLAs in Gbarma Town, Electoral District #3, emphasized the need for direct engagement with local communities to ensure fair distribution of benefits.
Alice M. Zinnah, Secretary General for Rural Women in Gbarpolu County, suggested constructing a market structure for women involved in farming to sell their crops, noting the significant losses due to the absence of such a facility.
Jartu Williams, a farmer from Gbarma Town, stressed the importance of community-based recruitment to prevent favoritism and ensure deserving individuals benefit.
Madam Lydia V. Ballah, Coordinator of Bopolu City CSOs, highlighted the impoverished conditions of Gbarpolu citizens despite the county’s natural resources and recommended that the project focus on benefiting those in need.
Sylvester G. Varmah, Gbarpolu Coordinator for the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), encouraged stakeholders to embrace the project, serve as ambassadors, and take ownership to help themselves, their families, and the government.
Rural women stressed the need for thorough research, especially in Village Savings and Loan Associations, before distributing cash to individuals or groups. James K. Vorkor and Ballah Kpaka, both farmers, recommended training beneficiaries on managing farming systems and other businesses to prevent double-dipping.
In her closing remarks, Cllr. Margaret Nigba Gayedyu, National Coordinator of the LWEP, lauded the participants for their dedication and contributions during the National Consultation and Stakeholders Engagement. She assured them that their suggestions would be used to improve the monitoring, evaluation, and implementation of the project in a transparent manner.
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