LWEP Beneficiaries Call for Increased Grants and Inclusion of More Women’s Groups in Gbarpolu County

 May 18, 2026

By Lazota Bility

Gbarma, Gbarpolu County:  Beneficiaries of the Liberia Women Empowerment Project (LWEP) in Gbarma Town, Gbarpolu County, are calling on the Government of Liberia and the World Bank to increase financial support under the program and expand it to include more village savings and women’s groups across the county.

The women made the appeal on Friday, May 15, 2026, during a one-day World Bank mission field visit to Gbama Town in Gbarma City, Gbarpolu County. According to beneficiary Alice Zannah, the project has significantly improved the lives of many women and their families in the county.

“My business has been doing well through the LWEP loan. Because of this project, I have been able to send my son to an international school, and today I am a proud mother because my son will soon graduate from a university in India,” Zannah said.

She appealed to the Government of Liberia and the World Bank to increase the grants, extend the duration of the project, and include more women’s groups in surrounding communities. “I’m begging the government and the World Bank to increase the money, extend the project, and allow other women groups in this town to also benefit from it.

Let them testify like us too. It is not easy sitting and doing nothing when your children are depending on you,” she added. Zannah also encouraged women in Gbama Town to use the funds wisely by investing in their businesses, children’s education, and other productive activities.

“Women of Gbama Town, let us use this money wisely. Invest in your businesses and in your children’s future because education will benefit them and the entire family,” she urged.

The Liberia Women Empowerment Project is a Government of Liberia initiative being implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection with support from the World Bank. The project aims to empower women and girls, strengthen basic services, promote positive social norms, enhance community participation, and support women-led livelihood activities in targeted communities across Liberia.

During the engagement, several beneficiaries shared testimonies about the positive impact the project has had on their lives. Bendu Varney, General Assembly Chairlady of one of the beneficiary groups, expressed gratitude for the support received. “I tell God thank you for today. I received US$4,000 and shared it among my people. Because of this money, our children are now going to school. We are very grateful to our partners,” she said.

Marthar Voir, Chairlady of the Songelee Village Savings Group with 28 members, also praised the initiative while calling on the government to improve road conditions in the area. “We appreciate the government so much. After my husband died, he left me with children to care for. We are asking the government to please fix our roads because we need good roads to transport our goods freely,” Voir stated.

Another beneficiary, Josephine M. Poole of the Wongosol Women’s Village Group, said the project has empowered women and improved their standing within their households and communities. “This project has empowered us a lot. I am appealing to the World Bank to extend the project so more women can be included. We have gained respect from our husbands because of this program,” she said.

The field visit brought together the World Bank mission team, the Project Management Unit, and Plan International Liberia, the lead service provider for the initiative. According to organizers, the visit was intended to assess the progress, impact, achievements, challenges, and lessons learned under the Liberia Women Empowerment Project in Gbarpolu County.

In remarks, Madam Miral Maruo, Senior Social Development Specialist at Plan International Liberia, praised the women of Gbarma Town for their commitment to the project. She joined the women as they danced to local dialect songs and celebrated the progress made through the initiative.

“Thank you very much, women of Gbarma Town. We are so happy to hear all of these amazing stories. I am truly inspired to be in your midst today,” Madam Maruo said. She added that Plan International Liberia remains committed to supporting initiatives that continue to empower women and improve livelihoods in local communities.