MONROVIA — At least 650 marginalized young Liberians are set to benefit from university education and technical and vocational training opportunities under a scholarship initiative supported by the Mastercard Foundation, following a highly competitive recruitment process that attracted 1,447 applicants from across Liberia.
The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) Liberia Chapter announced Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, that the beneficiaries would form the first cohort of its Phase II Program, designed to expand access to quality higher education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for disadvantaged young women and men.
The initiative, implemented in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, targets marginalized youth across 10 counties, providing bursary support to help beneficiaries pursue university degrees and acquire practical skills for employment and economic empowerment.
Speaking during a news conference in Monrovia, FAWE Liberia disclosed that the selection process attracted more than twice the number of available opportunities, underscoring the growing demand for educational and vocational support among young Liberians.
According to the organization, 1,447 applications were received nationwide, including 816 for university education and 631 for technical and vocational training.
Of the total applicants, 763 were females, representing 52.7%, while 673 were males. Eleven applicants did not indicate their gender.
The applications also included 28 persons with disabilities, representing 1.9% of the total, and 111 refugees or internally displaced persons, accounting for approximately 7.7%.
FAWE Liberia said the figures demonstrate the program’s reach among vulnerable populations, particularly young people facing financial, social and institutional barriers to education.
For the university component, 474 female applicants, 339 male applicants and three individuals who did not specify their gender sought opportunities at participating higher education institutions.
Among university applicants were 15 persons with disabilities and 65 refugees or internally displaced persons.
Cuttington University attracted the highest number of applicants, with 249, followed by Stella Maris Polytechnic University with 227.
Grand Bassa University recorded 62 applications, Nimba University received 52, Lutheran University of Liberia attracted 46, and William V.S. Tubman University received 20.
An additional 148 applicants did not indicate a preferred university, while 12 remained undecided about their institution of choice.
The TVET component attracted 631 applicants, including 289 females, 334 males and eight individuals who did not specify their gender.
Among those seeking vocational training opportunities were 13 persons with disabilities and 46 refugees or internally displaced persons.
The organization said the program is intended to provide practical educational pathways for young people who might otherwise struggle to access formal higher education or skills development opportunities.
Providing a geographical breakdown, FAWE Liberia disclosed that Montserrado County recorded the highest number of applications, with 508, followed by Bong County with 248 and Lofa County with 196.
Grand Bassa County recorded 106 applications, Margibi County 88, Nimba County 85, Maryland County 25, Grand Cape Mount County 20, Grand Gedeh County 15 and Sinoe County 10.
Applications were received from 14 of Liberia’s 15 counties, with River Gee County recording no applicants.
Five applications originated from outside Liberia, while 134 applicants did not indicate their county of origin.
FAWE Liberia emphasized that the selection process was competitive and that meeting the program’s eligibility requirements did not automatically guarantee admission.
“The eligible applications were subjected to a rigorous review and selection process conducted by the designated National Recruitment Selection Committees,” the organization said.
According to FAWE, the committees included representatives of government institutions, universities, vocational training institutions, youth organizations, civil society groups and organizations representing persons with disabilities and refugee communities.
The organization maintained that the involvement of multiple stakeholders was intended to strengthen transparency, fairness and accountability throughout the recruitment exercise.
FAWE Liberia also acknowledged the contributions of several institutions that supported the selection process, including the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Youth and Sports and National Commission on Higher Education.
Other partners included six participating universities, five technical and vocational training institutions, including the Monrovia Vocational Training Center (MVTC) and Booker Washington Institute (BWI), the Federation of Liberian Youth, Youth Coalition for Education in Liberia (YOCEL), National Commission on Disabilities, Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the FAWE Liberia Board.
The organization further expressed appreciation to the Mastercard Foundation and FAWE Africa for their continued support toward expanding educational opportunities, particularly for girls, young women and other marginalized groups.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to address barriers preventing disadvantaged Liberians from pursuing higher education and acquiring skills needed to participate meaningfully in the country’s workforce.
For many young Liberians, financial constraints remain a major obstacle to accessing university education and vocational training, particularly in rural communities where educational opportunities and support services are limited.
FAWE Liberia said its Phase II Program seeks to address some of those challenges by providing bursary assistance and supporting beneficiaries throughout their educational journeys.
The organization congratulated successful applicants and encouraged them to demonstrate commitment, discipline and determination as they prepare to begin their studies.
At the same time, FAWE urged applicants who were not selected to remain hopeful, emphasizing that the current recruitment represents only the first cohort of the program.
According to the organization, subsequent activities will focus on enrollment, orientation and onboarding of selected beneficiaries, followed by the implementation of support services intended to improve academic performance and completion rates.
FAWE Liberia reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the program is implemented with transparency, fairness, integrity and respect for the dignity of every applicant.
The organization also called on media institutions to continue providing accurate and timely information about the initiative to ensure that eligible young people, particularly those in underserved communities, remain informed about future opportunities.
With 650 beneficiaries expected to receive educational support under the first cohort, the program represents another effort to expand access to university education and vocational training for marginalized Liberians while strengthening the country’s human resource development.
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