Over 172 business plans under review as part of Liberia Women Empowerment Project’s (LWEP) economic support efforts

MONROVIA, LIBERIA-The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, through Plan International Liberia, the lead service provider for the Liberia Women Empowerment Project (LWEP), has inaugurated the Independent Proposal Evaluation and Approval Committee (IPEAC) to oversee the review and approval of the second batch of 172 business proposals submitted by women-led groups from Montserrado and Gbarpolu counties.

 The three-day workshop is taking place from August 5-7, 2025, at the Ala Lagune Hotel in Monrovia, falls under Component 3B: Economic Support and Livelihood Grants (ESLG) of LWEP. The initiative is designed to ensure a transparent, inclusive, and merit-based grant selection process, reinforcing LWEP’s commitment to advancing women’s economic empowerment in its target communities.

The evaluation workshop represents a significant milestone in LWEP’s broader commitment to advancing economic empowerment and resilience among women in project communities.

The process is anchored in fairness, transparency, and professional scrutiny, ensuring that funding decisions are both merit-based and inclusive. More than just a selection exercise, the initiative is designed to strengthen women’s business capacities through constructive feedback and mentorship. It is also one of the key steps in promoting sustainable, climate-smart, and gender-responsive livelihoods across Liberia.

Delivering opening remarks at the IPEAC review session, Abdulai Sheriff, Lead Service Provider Manager of LWEP, emphasized that the evaluation of grant applications is not just a technical exercise, but a step toward empowering women as entrepreneurs, leaders, and change makers.

He called on committee members to be guided by principles of transparency, inclusion, and impact, and expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Gender, consortium partners, and applicants for their commitment to building a more empowered and equitable Liberia.

Enoch Foday of the Project Management Unit highlighted the importance of the IPEAC process and the critical role of its members in reviewing and approving business plans under the LWEP.

He emphasized that the task is highly technical, and as such, committee members were carefully selected based on their expertise and competitiveness to ensure a rigorous evaluation process that will help elevate women-led businesses across rural Liberia.

Grace Kortu, the Director at the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, expressed her appreciation for the efforts to elevate women-led businesses and emphasized the importance of clear communication with beneficiaries. “We must break down the messages in a way that every woman can fully understand,” she stated. “When women truly grasp the support available to them, they are better positioned to maximize their potential, grow their businesses, and succeed.

Throughout the three days, committee members are evaluating business proposals submitted by beneficiaries, Individual Enterprises (IEs), and Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs).

Each application is being reviewed through a rigorous three-step process that includes an Environmental Risk Assessment, Climate-Informed Assessment, and Climate Investment. Evaluation. These steps ensure that the proposals are both economically viable and environmentally sustainable.

The IPEAC agenda includes an orientation on the ESLG grant mechanism, followed by breakout sessions for in-depth proposal evaluations, deliberations, scoring, and the final recommendation and approval of eligible beneficiaries. While proposals that meet the criteria will be recommended for funding, those not selected in this phase will receive constructive feedback and be encouraged to revise and strengthen their proposals for resubmission in future rounds. This approach ensures a supportive and inclusive process that promotes continuous improvement and capacity building among applicants

The evaluation process is being led by an independent committee composed of key stakeholders, including Plan International Liberia, the Project Management Unit (PMU), the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection,n and CSOs Representative. Their combined expertise ensures that the review process maintains high standards of integrity, gender sensitivity, and technical accuracy. consistency.

Following the evaluation, the committee will prepare a comprehensive report outlining its decisions, including a list of applications and business plans recommended for funding. Applicants advised to revise their submissions will receive detailed feedback and guidance to strengthen their proposals for future resubmission.

Approved applications will move forward to the signing of official grant agreements with the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, through Plan International Liberia.

These grants are expected to substantially contribute to the growth and sustainability of women-led businesses and economic groups within the project counties selected based on their expertise and competitiveness to ensure a rigorous evaluation process that will help elevate women-led businesses across rural Liberia.

Grace Kortu, the Director at the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, expressed her appreciation for the efforts to elevate women-led businesses and emphasized the importance of clear communication with beneficiaries. “We must break down the messages in a way that every woman can fully understand,” she stated. “When women truly grasp the support available to them, they are better positioned to maximize their potential, grow their businesses, and succeed.

Throughout the three days, committee members are evaluating business proposals submitted by beneficiaries, Individual Enterprises (IEs), and Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs). Each application is being reviewed through a rigorous three-step process that includes an Environmental Risk Assessment, Climate-Informed Assessment, and Climate Investment. Evaluation. These steps ensure that the proposals are both economically viable and environmentally sustainable.

The IPEAC agenda includes an orientation on the ESLG grant mechanism, followed by breakout sessions for in-depth proposal evaluations, deliberations, scoring, and the final recommendation and approval of eligible beneficiaries. While proposals that meet the criteria will be recommended for funding, those not selected in this phase will receive constructive feedback and be encouraged to revise and strengthen their proposals for resubmission in future rounds. This approach ensures a supportive and inclusive process that promotes continuous improvement and capacity building among applicants

The evaluation process is being led by an independent committee composed of key stakeholders, including Plan International Liberia, the Project Management Unit (PMU), the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, and CSOs Representatives. Their combined expertise ensures that the review process maintains high standards of integrity, gender sensitivity, and technical accuracy. consistency.

Following the evaluation, the committee will prepare a comprehensive report outlining its decisions, including a list of applications and business plans recommended for funding. Applicants advised to revise their submissions will receive detailed feedback and guidance to strengthen their proposals for future resubmission.

Approved applications will move forward to the signing of official grant agreements with the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, through Plan International Liberia. These grants are expected to substantially contribute to the growth and sustainability of women-led businesses and economic groups within the project counties.