Liberia’s Ministry of Gender Hosts Orientation on $44.6M Women Empowerment Project in Montserrado

By: Akoi M. Baysah, Jr.

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection on
Thursday hosted a one-day orientation workshop in Monrovia to engage
stakeholders in Montserrado County on the Liberia Women Empowerment Project
(LWEP).

The $44.6 million World Bank-supported initiative funded
through a blend of grants and loans targets 70% women and 30% men across six
counties and aims to promote gender equality, reduce gender-based violence, and
expand access to education and economic opportunities.

The event brought together around 40 participants from
various ministries and community leadership structures. Speaking at the
workshop, Madam Lisa Diasay of the LWEP Project Management Unit emphasized the
project’s accountability framework, highlighting that it is not a free-flowing
fund but one that Liberia must partially repay.

ActionAid Liberia Country Director, Madam Elizabeth Gbah
Johnson, described the LWEP as a “bold, transformative initiative” and called
for synergy among stakeholders to drive structural change and grassroots
empowerment. She stressed Montserrado’s role as a bellwether county whose
leadership could influence national outcomes.

Traditional leaders, youth groups, educators, and
representatives from government ministries voiced strong support. Madam Kou
Dorkago of Todee District hailed the project as a “new dawn for women,” while
FLY’s Patrick F. Wee emphasized its potential to challenge regressive cultural
norms. Mr. Amos Kanneh from the Ministry of Education noted its impact on
increasing school enrollment, especially for girls.

The workshop signals a shift from charity-based models to
inclusive, policy-driven development. With strong local buy-in, Montserrado’s
orientation could serve as a blueprint for effective implementation in the
remaining counties.