Paynesville, Liberia— Liberian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been urged to position themselves to take greater advantage of government procurement opportunities as the Accelerate360 SME Technical Assistance Programme convened a high-level public sector dialogue aimed at bridging the gap between policy and market access.
By Patience M. Jones
The dialogue, which forms part of a three-day series of SME events, took place on Wednesday 2nd June 2026, and was held at the Elmo Palace in Paynesville. The events are expected to conclude on Friday with activities at the Ministry of Commerce
and Industry.
The dialogue brought together officials and procurement from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC), the Liberia Business Registry (LBR), the Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Liberia Immigration Service, University of Liberia, other government agencies, development partners and participating SMEs to discuss practical ways of increasing local businesses’ participation in public procurement.
Speaking at the opening of the event, Mr. Prosper Doe Melomey, Chief of Party of Accelerate360 Project, said the programme was established to strengthen Liberia’s SME ecosystem and prepare local businesses to compete for opportunities.
Mr. Melomey explained that Accelerate360 is an SME Technical Assistance Programme implemented under the Liberia Investment, Finance and Trade (LIFT) Project, a Government of Liberia initiative supported in collaboration with the World Bank.
He said the programme’s core agenda is to accelerate the growth and development of Liberia’s SME ecosystem through capacity building, market access and business support.
According to him, the programme, which was launched in May 2024, has already recruited and built the capacity of 50 Business Development Service Providers and Entrepreneurship Support Organizations, while also working with the Small Business Administration (SBA).
“The centerpiece of our mandate is the recruitment and development of 165 SMEs,” Mr. Melomey said.
He explained that the 165 SMEs are being developed through three cohorts. The first cohort is nearing the completion of its activities, while the second cohort has already been recruited and is participating in several programme activities. Recruitment for the third cohort is ongoing.
Mr. Melomey encouraged eligible Liberian entrepreneurs to take advantage of the opportunity.
A $100 Million Opportunity for SMEs
A major focus of the dialogue was the implementation of the Small Business Empowerment Act, which provides opportunities for Liberian SMEs to participate in government
procurement.
Mr. Melomey noted that the Act provides for a 25 percent allocation of public procurement opportunities to SMEs, with 5 percent specifically reserved for women-led SMEs.
However, he said many business owners remain unaware of the legislation and the opportunities it provides.
“For the fiscal year 2026, the total budget of the Government of Liberia was approximately US$1.2 billion,” he explained, adding that significant allocations for public investments, goods and services could create substantial procurement opportunities for local businesses.
He estimated that approximately US$100 million in annual public procurement opportunities could potentially be accessible to SMEs.
Despite the policy framework, Mr. Melomey said implementation has faced several challenges, including limited resources, inadequate stakeholder awareness, weak coordination, procurement-related irregularities and the limited capacity of some SMEs to navigate public procurement procedures.
He said Accelerate360 therefore decided to bring SMEs together with the PPCC and other government institutions to improve understanding and create stronger pathways for local
businesses. “We strongly believe that with better coordination, we can see a lot more business going to SMEs,” he said.
Accelerate360, he added, is also engaging the PPCC and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to explore special procurement opportunities and support mechanisms for SMEs participating in the programme.
Commerce Ministry Calls for SME Readiness
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Hon. Magdalene Ellen Dagoseh, Deputy Minister for Administration, Hon. Tarnue Jekeh, said SMEs remain
central to Liberia’s economic development.
Hon. Jekeh said small businesses create jobs, provide essential goods and services, strengthen communities and expand the country’s productive base.
“When SMEs grow, the benefits extend beyond individual businesses to households, communities and the nation as a whole,” he said.
He emphasized that training alone is not enough for businesses to grow, stressing that entrepreneurs also need credible opportunities to sell, supply, compete and build a
record of successful delivery.
According to him, public procurement represents one of the most important pathways through which SMEs can expand their businesses.
“Qualified and competitive Liberian SMEs also have a place within the procurement ecosystem,” he said, stressing the government’s commitment to expanding their ability to
participate fairly and successfully.
Hon. Jekeh pointed to the Small Business Empowerment Act and other government policies and programmes as evidence of efforts to strengthen local enterprises.
He described Accelerate360 as an important practical intervention under the LIFT Project, helping selected SMEs strengthen their operations, improve their market readiness
and compete for new opportunities.
However, he urged participating businesses not to disqualify themselves by assuming that government contracts are reserved only for large companies.
“Seek information. Ask questions. Form appropriate partnerships where necessary and pursue opportunities that match your capacity,” he told the SMEs.
“Government can create the enabling environment, but SMEs must be deliberate, prepared and proactive in taking advantage of it.”
PPCC Highlights Growing Digital Procurement System
Meanwhile, Madam Victoria C. Dudley, Director, Vendor Registration (PPCC), presented an overview of Liberia’s Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system and the
national procurement landscape.
She explained that the PPCC regulates public procurement activities across Liberia and oversees processes involving the procurement of goods, works, and services by government
institutions.
According to Madam Victoria C. Dudley, Liberia currently has 204 procurement entities, with 4,353 procurement packages recorded in the 2026 procurement cycle. She said the country is gradually expanding the use of the electronic procurement platform, which was introduced to strengthen transparency, competition, and fairness in government contracting.
Madam Victoria C. Dudley disclosed that 56 procurement entities are currently using the e-GP platform, while other institutions continue to conduct procurement processes
manually.
She also reported that more than 1,000 vendors are registered on the electronic procurement system, including Liberian-owned and foreign-owned businesses.
However, she raised concern over the low participation of women-owned businesses in the overall value of contracts awarded.
According to the PPCC data presented, women-owned businesses account for a notable share of vendor registrations but receive only a small percentage of the total value of
procurement awards.
She encouraged more women entrepreneurs to diversify their businesses and take advantage of procurement opportunities beyond traditional sectors such as catering.
“
Procurement opportunities are available to all,” Madam Victoria C. Dudley said, urging business owners to register, meet compliance requirements and actively monitor available opportunities through the PPCC platform.
She explained that registered businesses can access procurement opportunities relevant to their registered line of business and financial threshold. Businesses seeking to expand into new sectors, she said, can amend their registration by providing the required
documentation.
SMEs Urged to Stay Compliant
During the panel discussion, representatives from the Ministry of Public Works, Liberia Business Registry, PPCC and the Ministry of Commerce discussed some of the major obstacles preventing SMEs from successfully competing for government
contracts.
Panelists included Mr. Bobby Frederick Nyenkan, Procurement Director at the Ministry of Public Works; Madam Diana Brown of the Liberia Business Registry; Mr. Harry W. Boway Jr., Assistant Director of Capacity Development and Operations Monitoring; and Madam
Victoria C. Dudley of the PPCC.
A recurring message throughout the discussion was the need for SMEs to formalize their businesses and maintain valid documentation.
Madam Diana Brown urged entrepreneurs not to wait until a procurement opportunity is announced before rushing to register their businesses or obtain compliance documents. She encouraged business owners to ensure that their registration certificates, tax documentation and other required records remain valid at all times.
“Don’t wait for the contract to come before you run to the
registry or other institutions,” she cautioned. Officials also encouraged SMEs to seek professional assistance when necessary, particularly in preparing financial
documents, legal agreements and procurement applications.
A representative of the Ministry of Public Works noted that some businesses lose opportunities because they lack the technical expertise required to prepare competitive bids. SMEs were encouraged to engage accountants, lawyers and other professionals on a contractual basis when necessary.
Partnerships Could Open Bigger Doors
Another major issue discussed was the importance of partnerships and business associations. Panelists noted that many SMEs may not individually possess the financial strength, equipment or technical capacity required for larger contracts.
However, they can improve their chances by forming partnerships, associations or joint ventures with other businesses. SMEs were encouraged to build relationships with equipment suppliers, manufacturers and other service providers to strengthen their ability to respond to procurement opportunities.
For example, a construction company may not need to own every piece of equipment required for a contract if it can establish credible leasing arrangements with equipment
providers.
Participants were also advised to specialize in specific areas rather than attempting to compete across every sector.
Moving From Policy to Participation
The dialogue concluded with calls for stronger collaboration between government institutions, procurement authorities and Liberia’s growing SME community. Officials acknowledged that while laws and policies have created opportunities for local businesses, greater awareness, improved coordination and stronger business capacity are
needed to translate those policies into real contracts and sustainable growth.
For Accelerate360, the goal is clear: to ensure that Liberian SMEs are not only trained but are also positioned to compete, win contracts and expand their businesses.
As Mr. Melomey emphasized, access to markets is central to the programme’s mission.
With the government remaining one of the country’s largest purchasers of goods and services, stakeholders believe that increasing SME participation in public procurement could create jobs, strengthen local businesses and ensure that more public spending generates value within Liberia.
The message to Liberian entrepreneurs was equally clear: formalize your businesses, stay compliant, seek information, build partnerships and actively pursue the opportunities available.
As the government and its partners work to strengthen the procurement ecosystem, the success of Liberia’s SMEs may increasingly depend on how prepared they are to move from
training to competition and from opportunity to sustainable growth.
Support Independent Journalism
Your support helps FrontPage Africa continue delivering independent, credible, and impactful journalism. Every contribution strengthens our ability to investigate, inform, and hold power accountable while keeping quality journalism accessible to our readers.
Support our journalism or subscribe to receive the latest FrontPage Africa stories and updates.
