Published: February 19, 2026
MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) — UNIDO GROW2, in partnership with the Liberia Chamber of Commerce, the Youth Entrepreneurs Network-Liberia and the Young Business Leaders Club, has launched the 2026 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Clinic, a hands-on capacity-building initiative aimed at strengthening youth-led and small businesses across Liberia.
The two-day clinic, which opened Wednesday, Feb. 18, at the Liberia Chamber of Commerce in Monrovia under the theme “From Side Hustle to Enterprise,” is designed to equip entrepreneurs with practical skills while connecting them to key public and private sector support institutions. The program concludes Thursday, Feb. 19.
Addressing Persistent Barriers to Growth
Providing an overview of the initiative, Frederick Gibson, Business Development Consultant at UNIDO GROW2, said the clinic is tailored to tackle longstanding challenges facing MSMEs in Liberia.
Training Session
He explained that the program aims to enhance participants’ skills in branding, marketing and pitching; improve financial management, bookkeeping and tax readiness; and support businesses in progressing toward formal registration and compliance. The clinic also seeks to connect entrepreneurs with relevant government agencies, facilitators and support networks, while generating actionable data and insights to inform future interventions.
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises remain a critical driver of employment creation, income generation and economic resilience in Liberia — particularly for young people. However, Gibson noted that many continue to struggle with limited access to finance, weak marketing strategies, legal compliance gaps, inadequate product development and poor branding.
As a result, he said, many youth-led businesses suffer from low market visibility, weak financial systems and limited formalization — factors that restrict growth and access to larger opportunities.
“In response to these challenges, UNIDO GROW2, in collaboration with the Liberia Chamber of Commerce (LCC), the Youth Entrepreneurs Network-Liberia (YEN), and the Young Business Leaders Club (YBLC), proposes the organization of a two-day MSME Clinic,” Gibson said. “The clinic is designed as a practical, hands-on capacity building intervention that directly addresses priority constraints faced by youth-led and small businesses, while linking them to relevant public and private support institutions”.
100 Entrepreneurs Selected
According to Gibson, the clinic features 100 participants, primarily youth-led and growth-oriented small businesses selected through an open application process.
He said the selection criteria were designed to ensure balanced representation from partner networks, focus on businesses positioned to benefit immediately from hands-on support and align participant needs with the clinic’s focus areas.
Chamber Calls for Full Participation
Delivering welcome remarks on behalf of the President of the Liberia Chamber of Commerce, Secretary-General Catherine Harris Karmo urged participants to fully engage in the sessions.
She described the clinic as a learning platform and encouraged entrepreneurs to actively ask questions and maximize the opportunity.
“Beyond information, this initiative also focuses on practical guidance, coaching, follows up support so that business move from potential to performance,” she said. “We are particularly grateful to UNIDO through the GROW 2 Project for the support and partnership.
Karmo reminded participants that their business success extends beyond personal gain and contributes directly to national development.
“With that, I am pleased to officially open the clinic and I wish you all success,” she said.
Youth Network Applauds Initiative
Also speaking, Benjamin Dagher, President of the Youth Entrepreneurs Network-Liberia, described the clinic as a transformative step for MSMEs.
He said the program would help entrepreneurs avoid common business mistakes while benefiting from expert guidance in business organization, financial management, marketing and branding.
“I urge that we also network, share business ideas, talk about your products and services you offer,” Dagher said. “I also say thanks to UNIDO, the Liberia Chamber of Commerce, and other partners for this great move”.
Strengthening Liberia’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
The 2026 MSME Clinic underscores a growing push to formalize and professionalize Liberia’s small business sector, particularly youth-led enterprises that form the backbone of the informal economy.
Organizers say initiatives like this are essential in moving entrepreneurs from informal “side hustles” toward structured, competitive and sustainable enterprises capable of driving job creation and economic transformation.
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