ActionAid Liberia’s Women’s Economic Empowerment Rights priority area continues to drive meaningful change by supporting women in building sustainable livelihoods, strengthening financial independence, and challenging the structural inequalities that limit their potential.
At the center of this effort is the belief that when women control economic resources, they are better positioned to lead change in their households and communities.
In Todee Rural, Montserrado County, this vision is becoming a reality through the Just and Equal Communities (JEC) Project. Implemented by ActionAid Liberia with support from the One of the members of the VSLA sorts out the money established from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) through the Embassy of Sweden in Monrovia, the project is enabling women to transition from vulnerability to empowerment.
On April 15, 2026, WoleKoma women’s group of 18 predominantly former Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) practitioners, now known as “Change Champions,” celebrated a major milestone: the successful sharing of funds from their Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA). Together, they generated $448,000 Liberian Dollars, nearly doubling the 250,000 Liberian Dollars raised in their first year.
“I feel so impressed because, at first, we didn’t even know how to save. I never imagined we could put aside our own money and grow it to this level,” said Bendora Washington, President of the Todee Girls and Boys Forum, her voice filled with excitement.
At the start of the JEC project, ActionAid, with support from SIDA, provided an initial seed fund of USD 3,750. This funding was entrusted to women in the community, enabling each member to launch small businesses. Over time, the women repaid the principal, allowing others to access the same opportunity and expand the circle of support.
The fund has remained entirely under the women’s control. In the first year, the Wolekoma women generated an additional LRD 250,000 beyond the original seed money, which they continue to safeguard in their savings box and reinvest to empower more women.
In the second year, during the latest VSLA share-out, the group generated LRD 448,000. According to Bendora, the VSLA has strengthened the women financially, giving those who once had no stable income the ability to plan and make decisions about their own finances.
“This VSLA has made us independent and self-supporting,” Bendora explained. “Because of this, we don’t have to sit and wait for men to do things for us before we can get things done.”
She also highlighted how the group has multiplied its resources through collective investments, including a three-acre cassava farm and the purchase of more than 100 gallons of oil to be sold during the rainy season.
“We have grown the money by investing wisely,” Bendora added. “We bought 150 tins of oil, and with our two cassava farms, when we harvest and sell, we will earn even more.”
LR 100% solely, which they grew and increased, returning the initial principle Todee women’s achievement reflects a shift in both economic status and social identity.
These women, once linked to harmful traditional practices, are now leading change by investing in productive and sustainable livelihoods. Using proceeds from their savings, they have engaged in cassava farming and palm oil production ventures that not only increase their incomes but also contribute to food security and local economic growth.
The impact of this transformation aligns with the broader goals of the JEC Project, now in its sixth year of implementation across 50 communities in Montserrado, Gbarpolu, Grand Gedeh, Bong, and Margibi Counties.
The project continues to address deep-rooted issues such as gender inequality, harmful cultural practices, and limited access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), while promoting inclusive development and community-led change.
Through sustained advocacy, awareness, and capacity-building initiatives, the JEC Project is helping to break the culture of silence around Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), early marriage, and FGM. Community structures, including Girls and Boys Forums and local organizations, are actively engaging residents and driving behavioral change.
The story of the 18 women in Todee is a clear example of what happens when economic empowerment meets collective action. By strengthening their financial capacity through VSLA, these women have gained more than income they have gained confidence, voice, and agency.
As ActionAid Liberia continues to prioritize women’s economic empowerment, stories like this serve as a powerful reminder: investing in women is not only a pathway to individual success, but also a catalyst for building just, equal, and resilient communities.
