With support from the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI), has strengthened the institutional capacity of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to effectively oversee and support the implementation of the Youth Entrepreneurship and Investment Bank (YEIB), following a five-day capacity development training held in Accra, Ghana, from December 15–20, 2025.

The training was organized with support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) as part of the Program for Advancing Youth Entrepreneurship and Investment, under which Liberia received UA 12 million to establish the YEIB. The YEIB is designed to promote youth entrepreneurship, job creation, and poverty reduction by providing financial and non-financial services to young entrepreneurs across the country.

The YEIB will operate as a non-bank, non-deposit-taking financial institution, overseeing three key funds: the Investment Fund, Guarantee Fund, and Technical Assistance Fund. In this framework, the SBA—under the supervision of MOCI—plays a critical role in policy alignment, governance oversight, coordination, and accountability. The Accra-based training was therefore tailored to equip SBA and MOCI’s officials with the advanced skills required to fulfill this mandate effectively.

A six-member delegation from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry participated in the training, led by Hon. Benedict A. Dolo, Deputy Minister of the Small Business Administration Department. Other participants included senior directors and technical staff from SBA and the Minister’s Office. The training was facilitated by Bridgewater, a professional firm specializing in investment, fund management, and institutional development, and was hosted at The Palm by Eagle Hotel, Accra.

Over the course of the training, participants received in-depth instruction on YEIB’s objectives within the Liberian context, MSME development, public-private partnerships and blended finance models, financial compliance, corporate governance, risk management, IT systems for fund management, financial management for MSMEs, youth entrepreneurship in agriculture, financial modeling, project management, and results-based monitoring and evaluation. The training adopted a participatory and hands-on methodology, combining expert facilitation, group assignments, presentations, and peer learning to reinforce the practical application of concepts.

The Government of Liberia considers this training a critical milestone in preparing national institutions for the successful operationalization of the YEIB. Moving forward, the SBA will conduct internal knowledge-sharing sessions, collaborate closely with YEIB management on governance and compliance frameworks, and contribute to the development of monitoring and evaluation tools to track performance and development outcomes.

This initiative reaffirms the Government of Liberia’s commitment, with the support of the African Development Bank, to building strong institutional systems that empower young entrepreneurs, stimulate private sector growth, and promote inclusive and sustainable economic development.

For further information, please contact:
Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Small Business Administration (SBA)
Monrovia, Liberia