Government of Liberia Disburses First Grant to 50 Female Fishmongers in West Point Under ProBlue Pilot Initiative

WEST POINT TOWNSHIP, MONROVIA September 16, 2026 — The Recovery of Economic Activities for Liberian Informal Sector Employment (REALISE) Project, in partnership with the World Bank, today disbursed the first tranche of business grants to 50 female fishmongers in West Point Township under the ProBlue Pilot Initiative, marking a major milestone in Government’s drive to strengthen livelihoods among vulnerable workers in Liberia’s informal and fisheries sectors.

The ProBlue Pilot Initiative objective is to strengthen linkages between social protection and the blue economy in Liberia by supporting small businesses in the fish value chain. The initiative is financed by the World Bank and the Government of Liberia through the REALISE project.  It provides each of the 50 enrolled beneficiaries with a total business grant of US$900, disbursed into two equal tranches, alongside a package of life skills training, entrepreneurship and business management coaching, and ongoing mentorship. Today’s disbursement covers the first tranche, giving beneficiaries immediate working capital to purchase fish, processing equipment, storage materials, and other essential business inputs.

The ceremony, held at the West Point Town hall in West Point Township, brought together representatives of the REALISE Project, community leaders, and the 50 women beneficiaries, many of whom have depended on fish mongering as their primary source of income for years despite limited access to capital and working tools.

Mr. Sele urged the beneficiaries to put the grant to prudent use, noting that the funds are intended to expand and stabilize their businesses rather than serve as one-off relief. He further commended the World Bank for its continued partnership with Government in reaching vulnerable workers at the community level, and called on the women to see one another as partners in growth by sharing skills and holding each other accountable for the success of the initiative.

Speaking on behalf of the REALISE Project, Mr. Jesse H. Bengu, Project Coordinator described the disbursement as a reflection of the project’s broader commitment to building economic resilience among Liberia’s informal fish businesses.

Mr. Bengu added that the second and final tranche will be disbursed following a review of beneficiaries’ progress and participation in the accompanying business training modules, in keeping with the project’s phased, results-based approach to grant-making.

The 50 beneficiaries, visibly elated, expressed profound gratitude to the Government of Liberia, the World Bank, and the REALISE Project for the intervention. Several beneficiaries noted that the grant would allow them to buy fish in bulk, invest in better storage and smoking equipment, and reduce their reliance on high-interest informal loans that had long constrained their businesses.

The ProBlue Pilot Initiative forms part of the broader efforts of the REALISE Project to promote sustainable fisheries-based livelihoods, encourage responsible business practices, and strengthen the productivity of Liberia’s fisheries value chain, particularly among women who make up the majority of the country’s fish processing and marketing workforce. Beneficiaries were selected through a transparent enrollment process to ensure that support reached eligible and deserving fishmongers within the West Point community.

Mr. Julius Sele on behalf of Government reaffirmed national commitment to monitoring the progress of the 50 beneficiaries considering the pilot’s outcomes as a model for possible expansion to other coastal communities across Liberia.

Media Contact

Henry M. Sumo, Jr.

Communications Officer-REALISE Project

Old Maternity Centerl

Capitol Bypass

Monrovia, Liberia

0777443242 / 0886837899

hsumo@liberiasp.gov.lr it should be