Women leading digital transformation in Liberia's agriculture sector

In 2022, UN Women Liberia, in partnership with the Orange Foundation, started the ‘Digital Inclusion for Women’s Economic Empowerment (D4WEE)’ project

The goal was to help rural women farmers in Bong and Nimba Counties connect with the formal financial system and access disaster risk reduction resources. Significant progress has been made, such as integrating 15 women-led Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) into the formal financial system. This has benefitted 400 women farmers who now have mobile phones and bank accounts, with plans to connect these to Orange Money mobile wallets for better business support.

“By enabling these women to become community-based facilitators, we’re enhancing their income-generating activities through both traditional and digital innovations,” stated Aisha Kolubah, national programme officer for Women Economic Empowerment at UN Women Liberia.

The project introduced a social protection scheme allowing VSLAs members to save, borrow, and invest digitally, enhancing their financial security. In August 2024, a four-day Training of Trainers (TOT) workshop was held in Monrovia for 22 women-led farming cooperatives, focusing on digital literacy skills and market access. Participants learned about digital marketing, social media use, and financial management with digital tools, leading to exciting opportunities for their businesses.

This training empowers women to share knowledge in their communities, promoting economic growth across rural areas. Continued collaboration among UN Women, CBL, and the Orange Foundation aims to create more opportunities for women through digital technology.

“We are pleased with this new way of handling our Village Savings and Loan Association group. Going digital with our savings and loans has made things simpler and safer for us. Now, we can keep an eye on our money and loans using our phones. It’s made everything clearer and smoother for us,” says Diana Davis, community-based facilitator at Liberia Rural Women Network Empowerment Incorporated.