Gender Ministry and Partners Conduct Stakeholder Engagement Workshop for LWE Project in Zwedru

By: D Abraham Cooper| Grand Gedeh County Correspondent

Grand Gedeh County – [May 14, 2025] – The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, held a full-day stakeholder engagement workshop centered on the Liberia Women Empowerment Project.

This initiative, which is funded by the World Bank and supported by organizations such as Plan International Liberia, ActionAid Liberia, and Catholic Relief Services, took place on May 13, 2024, at the Zwedru City Hall in Grand Gedeh County.

During the workshop, Robert B. Tolbert Jr., Regional Coordinator of ActionAid Liberia, presented an overview of the project. He stated that the main objective of the LWEP is to improve social and livelihood services for women and girls in designated communities.

Tolbert also highlighted the importance of promoting positive social norms and enhancing the government’s ability to empower women and girls through a holistic community approach that involves various stakeholders.

He stressed the need for community ownership and encouraged active collaboration throughout the project’s execution.

The training aimed to strengthen stakeholder engagement and promote effective integration within the community.

Tolbert noted that the project has a total budget of USD $44.6 million, which includes USD $18 million designated for livelihood grants, USD $18.6 million for implementation, and USD $10 million for monitoring and capacity building.

The project is scheduled to run from 2024 to 2027, impacting 498 communities across six counties, with anticipated beneficiaries of 267,200, including 36,000 individuals who will be receiving grants.

Meimah Whenyou from ActionAid Liberia addressed the project’s feedback and citizen engagement aspects, emphasizing the World Bank’s contribution of $6.5 million to support women’s empowerment efforts in Liberia.

Josephus K. Nyenpan, Grand Gedeh County Coordinator for the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, expressed appreciation on behalf of the Government of Liberia to the stakeholders and partners for their support.

Furthermore, he also reiterated the government’s dedication to the successful execution of the LWEP.

The workshop was a vital step in strengthening community ties, raising awareness, and ensuring that local voices, especially those of women, play a crucial role in Liberia’s development initiatives.

The event brought together local authorities, members of women’s groups in Grand Gedeh, and youth organizations to foster collaboration and advance women’s empowerment at the community level.

Edited: Jesefu Morris Keita| Editor-In-Chief