By Staff Writer
Monrovia, August 26, 2026Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection-Republic of Liberia its Liberia Women Empowerment Project (LWEP), on Wednesday, August 26, 2026 officially launched the Liberia Women Employment and Empowerment Taskforce during its inaugural meeting at the Ministry’s conference room in Monrovia.
The launch brought together government officials, civil society organizations, and development partners to strengthen coordination and expand efforts to create jobs, business opportunities, and economic support for women across Liberia.
The newly established Taskforce is expected to further improve coordination among government institutions, development partners, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to ensure that LWEP and related initiatives reach more women and achieve sustainable results.
Delivering the opening remarks, Assistant Minister for Gender, Hon. Ophelia Kennedy, said the establishment of the Taskforce demonstrates the government’s commitment to making women’s economic empowerment a key priority in national development.
“This Taskforce is about action. It is about ensuring that Liberian women, whether in the city or in the villages, have access to training, jobs, and the support they need to build businesses,” Hon. Kennedy said.
She emphasized that the Ministry, development partners, and other stakeholders are committed to protecting women, creating opportunities for them, and ensuring that existing opportunities are accessible to women across the country.
What the Taskforce Hopes to AchieveDuring the meeting, participants received an overview of LWEP from Abdulai Sheriff, LSP Manager for LWEP at Plan International. He explained that the project is designed to equip women with practical skills, access to financial services, and market linkages that can improve their livelihoods and economic independence.
Noorie Emmalin Dudley, Program Director for Agriculture, Livelihoods and Landscapes at Catholic Relief Services (CRS), presented the objectives behind the establishment of the Taskforce. She said the body will help harmonize programs, reduce duplication of efforts, strengthen collaboration among stakeholders, and track progress on women’s employment initiatives.
Shari Raji-Barry, Senior Gender Officer at CRS, led discussions on the proposed Terms of Reference, which participants reviewed and finalized.
The inaugural meeting ended with a call for continued collaboration and stronger collective action to advance women’s employment, economic empowerment, and inclusion across Liberia.
The Liberia Women Empowerment Project is a government of Liberia project implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP)Since its rollout, LWEP has been working in 6 counties (Gbarpolu, Rivercess, Grand CapeMount, Bomi, Rural Montserrado and Grand Gedeh) to support women, particularly young women and those living in rural communities. The project provides business development skills training, supports savings and loan groups, and connects women to markets for agricultural products and small businesses.
According to project officials, 418 Women-Led businesses comprising over 9,000 individuals have already benefited from the project through its livelihood cash grants. Across its 498 communities, women who previously relied primarily on subsistence farming or petty trading are now operating small businesses, accessing credit, and creating employment opportunities for others.
By improving access to skills, finance, and markets, LWEP seeks to reduce poverty, increase household incomes, strengthen women’s participation in Liberia’s economy and contribute to the Government’s ARREST Agenda on women’s economic empowerment..
