-Through World Bank Sustainable Fisheries Grant
By: Jerry Gaye
Monrovia – Women fishmongers in Liberia’s coastal communities continue to struggle with high interest rates from local banks and other financial institutions, often finding it difficult to repay loans due to inadequate financial literacy. These women, who rely primarily on fish selling to support their families, also face persistent challenges, including fluctuating fish supplies, limited access to capital, and a lack of proper financial management skills.
These hurdles hindered the growth of their businesses until the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), with support from the World Bank, intervened to assist.
On June 20, 2023, the Government of Liberia, through NaFAA and Conservation International (CI), signed a $2 million grant management agreement to enhance women’s participation in the fisheries sector under the World Bank-financed Liberia Sustainable Management of Fisheries Project (LSMFP). The grant, which is being implemented by CI with technical support from NaFAA and the LSMFP team, was officially launched in March 2025 in Monrovia.
How the Grant Is Impacting Lives
Through the World Bank grant program, 68-year-old widow and veteran fishmonger Giftee Nakwa is now able to provide for her five children. Madam Nakwa, a long-time resident of the Fanti Community in Marshall, Margibi County, has been engaged in fish trading for more than three decades, a business she started in her early thirties.
Before being enrolled in the grant program, she depended on loans from local banks to sustain her business, often struggling with repayments and finding it difficult to expand her business.
According to Madam Nakwa, through the program, she has benefited from two disbursements of US$400 each this year alone, and was trained in money management, savings, and diversification of income sources. These trainings played a pivotal role in enhancing her capacity to sustain her livelihood, even during low-fish seasons.
Giftee explained that the knowledge she gained from the project encouraged her to diversify her income. “When fish not dying, I do my petty business, I bake bread and sell it with other small goods,” she explained. This diversification has provided her different source of income throughout the year.
She told newsmen that since receiving the grants, she has generated over L$270,000 (approximately USD 1,350) in profit. This improvement in income, according to her, is enabling her to better support her household, particularly in paying school fees for her children, meeting daily family needs, and reinvesting in her business.
Dreaming Beyond Daily Survival
Like Madam Nakwa, 46-year-old Felecia Carr, another fishmonger in Buchanan City, stands as a symbol of resilience and determination. A mother of five, Felecia, dropped out of school in 2006 due to financial difficulties and turned to fish selling for survival.
With her husband unemployed, Felecia became the sole breadwinner for her family. “Life as a fishmonger has not been easy”, she narrated. Before receiving support from the World Bank–funded project, she struggled to keep her business afloat. Like other fishmongers, she often relied on loans from Access Bank and BRAC, juggling repayments while ensuring her children stayed in school.
Through the World Bank’s support, Felecia’s business has transformed. She has learned better financial management and gained new skills to sustain and expand her fish trade. Today, she speaks confidently about her future, envisioning a time when she will export fish out of Liberia. “In five years, I want to be sending fish outside of Liberia for sale. This is why I am happy for the World Bank coming to help us. Let them continue to help us.” For Felecia, the grant did not just boost her income; it renewed her hope and gave her the enthusiasm to dream beyond daily survival.
The “Fish for Living” Initiative
The women in Buchanan continue to play vital roles in sustaining the country’s fisheries sector. One inspiring example is Fish for Living, a women-led group in the fishing city that brings together more than 500 fishmongers under a shared vision.
The group is among the beneficiaries of the large grant provided under this project. According to Barbror Barso, the group’s secretary, Fish for Living has so far received its first grant of US$2,000, with an additional US$3,000 expected soon.
She explained that the group is wisely managing the funds by giving them to members as short-term loans at a 2% interest rate over three months. “After every three months, we collect the money and redistribute it to other members with the same interest. Doing it like that will make everybody in our group benefit,” Barso explained, emphasizing that the approach will allow the grant to reach a wider number of fishmongers in the county.
These grant beneficiaries have expressed profound gratitude to NaFAA, the World Bank, and CI for the intervention. The women claimed that before the project, they struggled to manage their finances and relied solely on fish trading. With the project’s guidance and financial support, they now have the confidence and skills to manage multiple small businesses and plan for the future.
