REVOLVING LOAN TO EMPOWER RURAL WOMEN IN LIBERIA

INTRODUCTION: This report covers activities implemented under the Project mentioned above. Covering the months under review (February 2020 –May 2020). This Project seeks to address some economic issues faced by single mothers and other venerable women in two communities in Margibi County, Liberia. It also trained and supported rural female family heads of households, in providing additional income-generating opportunities. This report also reflects interruption by the CONVID-19 pandemic as 90% of women who had received loans, are constraints to use the fund for hardship.

2.0 PLANNED ACTIVITIES FOR THE PERIOD UNDER REVIEW:

2.1 Interruptions on payment on loan due to COVID-A9

2.2 CONVID 19 awareness with the women's group

ACHIEVEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD UNDER REVIE

2.1 Interruptions on payment on loan due to COVID-A9

Giving Liberia a struggling economy amid the COVID-19. Learning Squared Liberia has witnessed and or experienced a huge set back in implementing the small business loans program for single and venerable mothers in the project area.

A total of 30 women in two communities received over two thousand dollars ($2,000.00USD) as a start-up kit to mothers to empower and improved their income-generating activities. This program helps develop entrepreneurial skills, resilience, and families' ability to be self- sufficient.

Our beneficiaries signed an agreement on the payment terms, as low as $500.00LD (Liberian Dollars), which is (USD 3.50) weekly. That is paid into the organization's mobile money account by the chairlady of the group. Learning Squared Liberia has established a mobile money account with both GSMs in Liberia for collecting its loan payment. A recent mobile conference call meeting with our beneficiaries has shown an enormous challenge. Our beneficiaries raised the numerous concerns about the payment of the loan due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the women complained that they had used the loan to provide food for their household as regular businesses were not permitted by Liberia's government because of fear of the spread of the virus while doing business. Learning Squared Liberia as a humanitarian organization could not demand the women's payment by looking at the situation in the country and worldwide.

This Project has beenable to impart over 1500 indirect beneficiaries and 30 women as direct beneficiaries. It is with a sense of humanity and compassion that Learning Squared Liberia and its partner are thankful that rural communities have collectively benefited from the organization program. Strategies are put in place to review the program after the activities are normalized.

2.2 CONVID 19 awareness with the women's group

Learning Squared and its partners have reached out to community members about the safety and protection of their families and communities during these difficult times. Radio messages and text messages sent regularly out to create awareness about the pandemic. Informing the community how to stay safe.

Constraints: The team's main challenge was the restrictions on movement and follow up field visits to monitor or collect data due to the CONVID 19 outbreak in Liberia. And the many challenges on our beneficiaries and the inability to repay the loan due to the COVID-19,

5.0 Recommendations/conclusion: Thanks, and appreciation to our supporters, donors, GlobalGiving, local communities, and schools for the level of commitment shown towards the successful implementation of the Project.

• Womens_project_Report_52720.docx (DOCX)

                                                   Learning Squared Liberia

            PROJECT Report:    Revolving Loan Support Rural Women in Liberia (38278).

                                                           DATE: January 29, 2020 

                                                      LOCATION: MONROVIA, LIBERIA

Prepared By: LSL-Liberia
Phone: +231(0)886828014

              +231(0)776828014
Email: info@learningsquaredlib.org
Website: learningsquaredliberia.org

INTRODUCTION: 

This report covers recent activities implemented under the above-mentioned Project covering the months under review (November 2019 –January 2020). The project ‘Revolving loan to Support rural Women in Liberia’ begin its pilot phase in Minor Community, Kakata. Margibi County, Liberia. This project which seeks to address some economic issues faced by single mothers in the community will train and support rural female family heads of household including strengthening and providing additional income generating opportunities for them. This report reflect loan payment and monitoring.

2.0 PLANNED ACTIVITIES FOR THE PERIOD UNDER REVIEW:

2.1 Loan payment in Minor Community

2.2Project/ small business monitoring in Kakata

2.4 Women’s Meeting and additional training on small loan management 

ACHIEVEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD UNDER REVIEW:

Loan payment:Loan payment in Minor community completed during the period under review, the total of 13 women in minor Community received the amount of $40.00 USD each for the establishment of small business that will empower them to continually keep their children in school. These 13 women are parents of the children that are presently on Learning Squared Liberia scholarship program in Margibi County. The total of $520.00 USD was given to these 13 rural women as a way of empowerment and a long term project for the advancement of their children’s education in the community. This amount will be paid back within the period of six months to the organization which will provide space and funding for additional women in the community to join the project.

The next phase payment will begin with women from the palm bush community also in Kakata city. These women are also single mothers of children on the scholarship program in the community. These women will also receive the amount of $40.00 each to start a small business or farm that will enable them provide school fees and uniform for their children at the end of the project. The total of 30 women are expected to benefit from this project from the two listed communities below:

• Minor community, Kakata, Margibi Country, Liberia
• Palm Bush community , Kakata, Margibi County, Liberia

 Project/ Small Business Monitoring: Learning Squared Liberia begin its monitoring on small businesses established by women from Minor Community in Kakata. Upon receipt of the first loan payment, beneficiaries begin the process of establishing a small business in the community. These women begin a small table market with rice, oil, and other cooking items in the community. Other women went back to the soil with the planting of cassava, eddoes & potatoes which will be ready for harvest in three months. During the monitoring process, the team also monitor and encourage women to save daily that will enable them to purchase new goods and payback the loan on the giving time.

Women’s Meeting and training: During the period under review women from both palmand minor communities attended a one day join meeting and training section in Kakata city, Margibi County. These women were able to bring out issues faced by the first group of women who receive their loan payment. The progress made and challenges were discuss with total of 27 women in attendance including three counties authorities and the program team from Learning Squared Liberia. This training which lasted for three hours provided women with additional information as regards to the project and it implementation. Other women who have begun engaging the soul express happiness for the loan project and said that it is a good way to begin their life again after a long time without business and products on the farms to plant and harvest.

4.0 Constraints:

There were few challenges that the project team encounter during the period under review, the lack of vehicle for the official use of the organization is leaving program staff to travel through public transport vehicle/motorbike which most times delay before reaching the project site.  

Also, the high demand for the implementation of the project in other communities is also a high challenge where other women that were not selected for the project is requesting to become a part. Lastly, language barrier is also a challenge as women in the community frequently communicate through their native language leaving the team speaking through an interpreter.

 5.0 Recommendations / conclusion: Thanks and appreciation to our supporters, donors, GlobalGiving, local communities and schools for the level of commitment shown towards the successful implementation of the project. Learning Squared Liberia remain open in working with all women in the community and Liberia at large.   

• Womens_project_Report._Nov.Jan..docx (DOCX)