Monrovia – The Liberia Women Empowerment Project has successfully concluded a three-day intensive National Consultation and Stakeholders Engagement in Gbarpolu County, ahead of the full implementation of the World Bank-sponsored project valued at US$44.6 million.
By: Blamo N. Toe, contributing writer
The engagement commenced 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. These sessions brought together adjacent communities, towns, and villages of the respective districts in Gbarpolu County.
Held in town halls, the National Consultation and Stakeholders Engagement included the participation of various local leaders from the three districts, fishmongers, farmers, and members of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), among others.
The project is slated for implementation in six counties: Gbarpolu, Bomi, Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Rivercess, and Montserrado, targeting a total of 267,200 beneficiaries from 750 communities. Its aims include fostering positive social norms, enhancing basic services in health and education, promoting resilient livelihoods through community-led approaches, and strengthening public institutions to advance gender equality.
A total of 36,000 women are expected to benefit from the livelihood and grants provided by the project. Prior to Gbarpolu, the team conducted the National Consultation and Stakeholders Engagement in Todee, Arthington, and Bentol in Montserrado County.
Stakeholders expressed their appreciation to the Liberian government for selecting their county and pledged full cooperation with the Ministry of Gender through the Liberia Women Empowerment Project to ensure the project’s smooth implementation. Musu M. Kamara, Coordinator of the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection for Gbarpolu County, praised the initiative as timely and a milestone achievement for the area. She urged potential beneficiaries to seize the opportunity to improve their lives.
Several recommendations for effective and transparent project implementation were provided by stakeholders from Bopolu, Bokomu, and Gbarma. Jestina V. Dukuly, Bopolu City’s first female Commissioner, encouraged participants to maximize the opportunity and support the national government’s efforts, emphasizing the importance of involving the local Agriculture Coordinator for better sector understanding.
Musa D. Kamara, Commissioner of Gbarma District, recommended a local assessment to ensure the right people benefit, while Fatu Swaray, a farmer in Gbarma Town, stressed the need for project implementers to verify the legitimacy of beneficiaries.
District Commissioner John K. Korsee and Senior Paramount Chief Fredrick K. Massaquoi from Bokomu suggested involving local leadership in the project’s implementation, given their close connection with the community. Hawa Patrick, a VSLA member from Gbarma Town, stressed the importance of direct engagement with locals to ensure equitable benefit distribution.
Alice M. Zinnah, Secretary General for Rural Women in Gbarpolu County, suggested constructing a market structure for women farmers to sell their crops, noting that the absence of such a facility leads to significant crop loss.
Jartu Williams, a farmer from Gbarma Town, urged project recruiters to conduct community-based recruitment to avoid biased selection by local interests. Lydia V. Ballah, Bopolu City CSOs Coordinator, highlighted the community’s impoverished condition despite abundant natural resources and advocated for the project to benefit the truly needy.
Sylvester G. Varmah, Gbarpolu Coordinator for the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), encouraged stakeholders to take ownership of the project activities to help themselves, their families, and the government.
The rural women emphasized the need for thorough research, particularly within the VSLA framework, before disbursing funds. Farmers James K. Vorkor and Ballah Kpaka recommended training beneficiaries in farm and business management and preventing double-dipping by beneficiaries.
In her closing remarks, National Coordinator of the LWEP, Cllr. Margaret Nigba Gayedyu, thanked participants for their dedication and contributions during the consultation and engagement. She assured that their suggestions would enhance the project’s monitoring, evaluation, and implementation in a transparent manner.
