Monrovia – Fifty Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) and Entrepreneurship Support Organizations (ESOs) from across Liberia recently benefited from a three-week capacity building program in Monrovia.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh
The BDSP/ESO Capacity Building Program is a component of the Accelerate360 Program, launched in May this year in Monrovia. Accelerate360 is a SME Technical Assistance program under the LIFT project, sponsored by the Government of Liberia and the World Bank and implemented through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Accelerate360 is being managed by Bridgewater Advisors Limited, an international advisory firm contracted by the Government of Liberia to implement and manage Sub-Component 2.1 of the LIFT project.
The capacity building program included expert-led training sessions held at the Royal Grand Hotel, which focused on building the technical knowledge and skills of selected BDSPs and ESOs in Access to Markets, Supply Chain Management, Climate Adaptation, and Access to Finance. Participants also gained access to frameworks and tools to strengthen business development services and would be added to a national database of trained BDSPs and ESOs. Post-training, participants are expected to benefit from information on trade shows, financing opportunities, and opportunities for international and domestic markets.
Several participants lauded Bridgewater Advisors for the program, noting that it had strengthened their capacity to support Liberian SMEs.
“One of the important things I got from the training are issues affecting us like climate change caused by deforestation and pollution. To mitigate this, we should stop cutting trees and get involved in recycling, which will reduce waste in our environment and oceans,” said Susan Kamara Teage, one of the trainees.
She emphasized that the training stressed that BDSPS and ESOs should encourage entrepreneurs to invest in climate-smart solutions, such as producing affordable alternatives to firewood and charcoal, especially for rural communities.
Another participant, Winn Wright Akoi, added: “The training was a great refresher. It would help us prepare SMEs adequately by creating collaboration, identifying gaps and opportunities, and building a collective front to address challenges in the ecosystem.”
Jeremiah Fahnbulleh, Technical Director of the Liberia Vegetable Sellers Association, praised the training: “This program has given us the skills and capacity to engage SMEs effectively so they can be well positioned to access opportunities in the SME ecosystem.”
The training, which began on August 11, 2025, run until August 29, 2025. As part of the program, the 50 BDSPs were equipped with both soft and hard skills to improve SMEs’ access to finance and markets.
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