To Bolster Grassroots Women’s Empowerment, LWEP Launches Community Agent Training in Grand Gedeh

By: Geeplay Ezekiel Geeplay| Contributing writer

Zwedru City, Grand Gedeh County |April 25, 2026 |The Liberia Women Empowerment Project (LWEP) has begun a two-day training for Community–based agents (CBAs) in Zwedru, part of a nationwide rollout across all six LWEP counties aimed at strengthening grassroots support for women and marginalized groups.

The training, hosted at ActionAid Liberia’s sub-office in Zwedru, is funded by the World Bank through the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.

It brings together seven CBAs from Konobo District, Pokor Town in B’hai District, Pouh Town in Gbao Administrative District, and Gbolekeh in Cavalla District.

A release from ActionAid said, the sessions are being conducted in collaboration with LWEP consortium partners Medica Liberia, Kids’ Educational Engagement Project (KEEP), and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) respectively.

Day one of the training focused on safeguarding and Sexual Harassment, Exploitation and Abuse (SHEA), the roles and responsibilities of CBAs, environmental and social risk management, and a deeper understanding of LWEP’s components.

Upcoming sessions will cover grievance redress mechanisms (GRM), reporting structures, documentation, and effective communication strategies.

“Through this initiative, Community Based Agents are being equipped with the tools and knowledge needed to support women and communities at the grassroots level,” organizers said.

ActionAid Liberia is implementing Component 1B of LWEP, which focuses on strengthening community engagement structures, promoting active citizenship, and elevating the voices of women, youth, and marginalized groups.

According to ActionAid, Component 1B works through stronger community committees, accountability mechanisms such as grievance boxes, community monitoring, and grassroots mobilization to tackle harmful social norms and shift power dynamics.

The organization said the work aligns with its Country Strategy Paper III priorities, reinforcing its commitment to “standing alongside women, young people, and marginalized communities in the fight for rights, freedoms, and economic empowerment.”

While the Zwedru training marks the Grand Gedeh phase, similar CBA trainings are taking place simultaneously in the other five LWEP counties. LWEP is a flagship government program designed to address gender inequality and increase women’s social and economic opportunities nationwide.

The project is structured into multiple components targeting livelihoods, social norms, community engagement, and institutional strengthening. CBAs serve as the critical link between the project and rural communities, ensuring information, services, and accountability mechanisms reach the most remote areas.

With World Bank financing and oversight from the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, LWEP represents one of Liberia’s largest investments in gender equality and community development in recent years.