From One Bag of Rice to 25, Rivercess Women Share Stories of Growth Under LWEP
November 2, 2026
By Lazota Bility
CESTOS CITY, Rivercess County, or Judy Graham, the progress of her business can be measured in bags of rice.
Once struggling to trade with just one bag, the owner of Ma Judy Business Center says she now has 25, alongside something she values just as deeply: the confidence to make decisions for herself.
Graham credits the Liberia Women Empowerment Project (LWEP) with helping her expand her business and regain her self-belief.“I am so grateful to God, the Government of Liberia and the World Bank for bringing this opportunity to our doorsteps,” she said.
“Some of us never had the confidence to stand and make decisions, but today I can stand with my head held high.
”Her testimony was among those shared during the Deputy Minister of Gender and Team’s engagement with beneficiaries in Cestos City on Monday, November 2, 2026, as part of a multi-county assessment of projects supporting women and vulnerable communities.
For Graham, the increase in her stock represents a stronger footing in business. For other women at the gathering, the benefits are reaching beyond their businesses and into their children’s classrooms.
Marian M. Karr, head of the “Money Is Power” Money Saving Club, said a US$5,000 grant received by her group had helped members invest in their livelihoods and better meet household needs.
Before the support, she explained, many members struggled to cover basic expenses. Women in the group are now putting money into their businesses and supporting their children’s education.
Their accounts illustrate the connection LWEP seeks to strengthen between women’s economic opportunities, their ability to make decisions and the well-being of their families.
Implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, LWEP was approved with US$44.6 million in World Bank financing, comprising a US$26.8 million credit and a US$17.8 million grant through the International Development Association.
Its support combines livelihood opportunities with measures to address the social barriers facing women and girls.
The project covers 498 communities across six counties and aims to support 36,000 women with livelihood and business development services.
Its wider interventions include preventing gender-based violence, improving access to health and education services, and strengthening women’s voice in their communities.
These figures represent project targets rather than confirmed results.Against that broader ambition, the Cestos City engagement offered ministry officials an opportunity to hear directly from beneficiaries about what is changing and where further support is needed.
Deputy Minister Laura Golakeh said the tour is assessing implementation under LWEP, the Recovery of Economic Activity for Liberian Informal Sector Employment (REALISE) Project and the Spotlight Initiative 2.0.
Gender Ministry officials are examining livelihood activities, the use of grants, reported changes in household incomes and whether the benefits can be sustained.
The assessment also includes identifying implementation challenges and checking whether county offices have the equipment needed to carry out their responsibilities.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Deputy Minister Atty. Laura Golakeh urged women to protect the opportunity by investing grants in the activities for which they were provided.
“Please use it for the intended purpose to help transform your livelihood and educate your children,” she said.
Golakeh described LWEP as a Government of Liberia project supported by World Bank financing and emphasized that public officials have a responsibility to serve the people, regardless of their titles.
For Graham, that support has already taken a concrete form: a business stocked with 25 bags of rice and a renewed sense of confidence.
“My life and business have improved from one bag of rice to owning 25 bags,” she said.
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