The Liberia Women Empowerment Project (LWEP) is a flagship initiative of the Government of Liberia, implemented through the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MOGCSP) with funding from the World Bank. The project aims to enhance the social and economic empowerment of women and girls across Liberia, particularly in underserved and rural communities.
As part of its implementation framework, LWEP works with a consortium of service provider organizations, led by Plan International Liberia and including ActionAid Liberia, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Medica Liberia, Defense for Children International (DCI), Foundation for Community Initiatives (FCI), KEEP. These partners are responsible for delivering key project components across six counties.
In line with the project’s commitment to system strengthening and effective service delivery, the Ministry organized an official handover ceremony on August 7, 2025, to distribute critical logistical assets to the implementing partners. The assets included four (4) Land Cruiser vehicles and twenty-two (22) motorbikes, comprising 11 Yamaha and 11 Honda models. These assets were allocated across the partner organizations based on operational needs and geographical coverage. The four vehicles were handed to Plan Internation Liberia the Lead Service Provider receiving two vehicles while Actionaid Liberia and Catholic Relief Services receiving one of each vehicle.
Speaking on behalf of Hon. Gbeme Horace-Kollie, Minister of Gender, Mr. Fredrick Cooper; reaffirmed the Ministry’s expectation for partners to use the assets strictly for LWEP implementation:
“Impact is what we want to see. These vehicles and motorbikes must serve the people—not individuals, and deliver real results for women and girls in the most remote communities.”
Abdulai Sheriff, Lead Service Provider (LSP) Manager, emphasized that the assets were a vital part of enabling project delivery: read full story here.
“Today’s handover is not just about logistics; it’s about breaking barriers to reach communities where access has been a challenge. With these vehicles and motorbikes, our teams can now accelerate implementation and expand our reach.”
Miriam Murray, Country Director of Plan International Liberia, described the moment as a milestone in LWEP’s journey:
“We have been waiting for this day because it represents our shared commitment to system strengthening and quality delivery. These assets will help us reach beneficiaries in the most remote areas, showing that together, we are serious about making a difference.”
Representing the service provider organizations, Victoria T. Koiquiah expressed gratitude for the Ministry and partners’ efforts:
“On behalf of the implementing partners, we are thankful for this support. These resources will not just ease our work; they will enable us to meet the women, girls, and communities where they are and deliver on our promises.”
The event was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, including Deputy Ministers and Assistant Ministers, as well as representatives from the Project Management Unit (PMU) and service provider organizations.
This handover marks a significant milestone in ensuring that LWEP field staff and project teams are better equipped to deliver quality services, reach remote beneficiaries, and accelerate impact at the grassroots level. At the conclusion of LWEP, all assets will be returned to the Ministry to support future development initiatives.
