Press Release: June 29, 2024: A two-day monitoring and evaluation workshop organized by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry with funding from UNPD has been concluded in Ganta City, Nimba County.  The objective of the  two-day gathering held from June 27-28,2024 was  to  discuss lessons learned from 2022 and 2023 implementation cycle, share experiences, evaluate results, consider successes for replication and clearly come up with solutions that will improve in any areas where the project did not perform  as anticipated.

It  was part of the  UNDP’s sponsored  US$7,817,000.00 Livelihood and Employment Creation Project in Liberia that is being implemented by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry(MoCI) with focus on vulnerable communities and less privileged people.  Taking into consideration a Commerce Ministry and UNDP joint evaluation reports and testimonies from beneficiaries, the project is making significant impact in the country.

The rewarding nature of the project was once more demonstrated through great testimonies from the beneficiaries during the two-day workshop.

Some of the beneficiaries who took the floor during the workshop to narrate how the UNPD-sponsored MoCI Livelihood and Employment Creation Project in Liberia has changed their living conditions since its commencement include Yamah Coleman (Yamah Coleman Provision Shop), Konia Zorzor Distrct,Lofa County, Saah Bundoo (Makona River Farm and Agriculture Services),Sorlumba Waun Administrative District,Foya, Lofa County,  Vivian  Zarweh (Sharon Beauty Saloon) of Zwedru City, Grand Gedeh County, Plensah McCoy (Nimba Women Agriculture  Cassava and Vegetables)located in Nimba County, S.A. Richard Merfee,now running a provision shop in Sinoe County after several years  of struggle regarding how to improve his business, Rudolph  Neewray (Zulu Ecobrigade), a mobile money business being run in Zwedru City,etc The beneficiaries lauded the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the UNDP for helping them improve their lives through the project. They vowed to ensure that the funds being provided would always be used for the intended purpose.

Speaking at the opening of the two-day workshop, Deputy Commerce Minister for Administration, Scholastica Tanneh Nyenkan-Nimley said the Commerce Ministry has been keen about undertaking programs that are intended to help needy Liberians improve their living conditions.  Also speaking, Deputy Commerce Minister for Small Business Administration, Benedict Amos Dolo admonished the beneficiaries to always work in cluster in order to ensure that ideas are shared.  Deputy Minister Dolo also encouraged the beneficiaries to take constructive steps   that will help them lessen their dependence on donors.

The project, with a five -year  life span, is being implemented in  seven of Liberia’s fifteen counties; Montserrado,  Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand  Bassa, Nimba and  Lofa.  Beneficiaries included women, refugees,   the youth, and people living with disabilities.

It can be recalled in  2022 and 2023 that UNDP through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry  implemented series of activities through the  approved annual work plans to support livelihood and employment creation that included Growth Accelerator, Youth Business Plan Competition, Youth Ecobrigade, Youth Cadet & Internship Program, Cash for Work Program,etc.