REALISE Project Expands Household Registration and Cash Transfer Enrollment in Grand Kru County

The Recovery of Economic Activity for Liberian Informal Sector Employment (REALISE) Project, has begun registration of households in 15 districts in Grand Kru County. The Registration is an expansion of the project’s ongoing data collection for operations.

The registration is one of two activities taking place in Grand Kru County led by the REALISE Project. The household registration will target 14,000 households, intended to populate the Liberia Household Social Registry.

The Liberia Household Social Registry (LHSR) is a comprehensive database designed to collect and store detailed information on households across Liberia, particularly focusing on those who are vulnerable and living in poverty. The primary purpose of the LHSR is to serve as a centralized system to improve the targeting and delivery of social protection programs and services.

The Second activity in Grand Kru County covers 2,100 beneficiary Households with enrollment into the Cash Transfer (SCT) Program. These beneficiaries are captured based on credible data that indicates poverty and food insecurity in selected districts and communities.

Grand Kru County is one of four counties currently benefiting from the SCT program under the Recovery of Economic Activity for Liberian Informal Sector Employment (REALISE Project).

Cash transfers are a vital lifeline for the poor, providing them with immediate financial relief to meet essential needs such as food, shelter, and healthcare. By directly injecting cash into the hands of those in need, these programs empower recipients to make choices that best suit their circumstances, fostering greater economic independence and stability. Additionally, cash transfers stimulate local economies as beneficiaries spend money within their communities, creating a ripple effect of economic growth. Overall, these programs play a crucial role in alleviating poverty, reducing inequality, and enhancing the overall well-being of vulnerable populations.

The Acting REALISE Project Coordinator and National Coordinator for Social Protection at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Aurelius Butler, has expressed great satisfaction with the level of efforts exerted by the Project Management Team (PMT). Mr. Butler exclaimed, “I am extremely gratified by the level of work our team is doing to swiftly delivered cash to the vulnerable population captured by the project.”

Mr. Butler noted, “that with the strengthening of Liberia’s Social Protection System, the country will continue to identify the neediest population and provide assistance where the need exists. This will further be demonstrated more comprehensively this year as we work to deliver a new policy on social protection and to decentralize the coordination of such interventions.”

The National Coordinator for Social Protection is currently leading efforts to update the National Social Protection Policy and Strategy, which will set Liberia’s goals and a roadmap for the Social Protection sector, to draw the attention of all stakeholders and partners to support more programming. 

Meanwhile, the Liberian Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection is pushing for a wider coverage of Social Protection Program in Liberia. “I want to see programs everywhere in Liberia that capture the neediest”.

The SCT program is already delivering cash to 7,800 beneficiary households in Grand Bassa County, with River Gee and Rivercess counties expected to be added in the coming months.  The REALISE Project is currently operating in 14 of the 15 counties working to bring economic relief to the informal sector – which is plagued with unemployment and high poverty.

The Deputy Project Coordinator for Social Assistance Shadrach S. Gbokie is leading the Registration effort in Grand Kru County. Mr. Gbokie oversaw the recruitment and training of enumerators, who have already deployed in the selected communities.

The REALISE Project is Financed by the World Bank, French Development Agency (AFD) and the Swedish International Development Corporation Agency (SIDA).