By Grace Q. Bryant
Plan International Liberia, in collaboration with several key partners, has signed an $18.6 million Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement the Liberia Women Empowerment Project (LWEP).
The signing ceremony held on February 19, 2025, at Plan International Liberia’s office in Congo Town, brought together government officials, civil society organizations, and development partners committed to advancing gender equality and empowering women and girls in Liberia.
The project, funded by the World Bank through the Government of Liberia, will be implemented under the leadership of the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection.
Plan International Liberia will serve as the lead service provider (LSP), coordinating efforts with Medica Liberia, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), KIDS Educational Engagement Project (KEEP), Action Aid Liberia, and Defence for Children International Liberia (DCI).
According to the Manager of the Lead service provider, Abdulai Sheriff, the Liberia Women Empowerment Project will focus on three key components, designed to address gender-based violence (GBV), economic empowerment, and social behavior change.
He added that Social Behavior Change (SBC) component, which will be led by ActionAid Liberia, aims to challenge harmful gender norms and promote positive social transformation.
The project will employ the SASA Together methodology, a globally recognized approach developed by Raising Voices Uganda, to prevent gender-based violence and promote community-led change.
“Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Prevention and Response, which is another component will work to strengthen healthcare services, support survivors, and improve access to education for girls. The initiative will also focus on keeping girls in school, addressing early marriage, and reducing harmful traditional practices,” he said.
He further disclosed that Economic Empowerment and Livelihood Support aspect of the project includes capacity-building programs for women-led organizations, skills training, and grant disbursement to support women entrepreneurs, Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA), and farming cooperatives.
The US$18.6 million budget is divided into two parts: Project Implementation: led by Plan International Liberia.
This portion will fund the operational activities of the project and the grant disbursement and US$18M, which will provide direct financial support to women-led organizations, small businesses, and farmer cooperatives.
The project will be implemented in six counties: Rural Montserrado, Bomi, Gbarpolu, River Cess, Grand Kru, and Cape Mount.
Sheriff said the initiative is expected to benefit over 200,000 women and girls across these counties.
The Liberia Women Empowerment Project is scheduled to run for three years, with an expected completion date of September 2027.
However, the initial agreement covers a one-year implementation period, with subsequent renewals planned based on project performance.
According to Foday Kawah, an implementing partner from Defence for Children International Liberia (DCI), the primary objectives of the project include reducing violence against women and girls in target communities.
“Strengthening GBV service providers to offer better support for survivors; ensuring more girls stay in school by addressing barriers such as early marriage and financial difficulties and increasing women’s economic independence through skills training and business grants,” he noted.
He emphasized that the project is about giving women and girls a voice, space, and opportunities to improve their lives. “By the end of the three years, we want to see a real reduction in GBV cases and more women actively participating in Liberia’s economic development.”