| Approval Date | 22 Nov 2021 |
| Signature Date | 15 Feb 2022 |
| Planned Completion Date | 30 Jun 2025 |
| Last Disbursement Planned Date | 30 Jun 2025 |
| Sovereign / Non-Sovereign | Sovereign |
| Sector | Social |
| DAC Sector Code | 15170 |
| Environmental Category | 3 |
| Commitment | U.A 2,980,000 |
| Status | Implementation |
The project targets Liberia and Sierra Leone and aims to empower Women Traders (WTs) in cross border Value Chains (VCs) for resilient economic growth and social cohesion. It will benefit at least 1500 WTs, 750 in Liberia and 750 in Sierra Leone, trading across Foya and Koindu as well as Bo Waterside and Jendema border points. They will receive: (i) entrepreneurship training; (ii) post-training support in terms of coaching, mentoring and peer-to-peer support), simplified information on trade rules and regulations – including sensitization on opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA); (iii) support on business formalization; (iv) support to access markets, technologies and finance; and (v) to participate in decision-making processes that impact them. The project will seek regular feedback from beneficiaries through surveys and consultative dialogues throughout its implementation, to track progress and effects. The project comprises three main components namely: (i) gender responsive, climate friendly and conflict sensitive Value Chain Analysis (VCA), (ii) Inclusive and resilient market dynamics and (iii) Enabled women traders in cross border value chains.
The objective of the project is to empower women traders in cross border value chains for resilient economic growth and social cohesion in MRU. The project will start with an initial gender responsive, climate friendly and conflict sensitive value chain analysis that will inform the selection of two value chains and highlight the priority actions that need to be taken to increase the benefits women receive from cross border trade.
The main beneficiaries of the project are at least 1500 WTs, 750 in Liberia and 750 in Sierra Leone. Other beneficiaries include the MRU Secretariat, border community members, institutional actors in the trade environment, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) operators and financial institutions along the identified value chains and trade corridors. All the direct and indirect beneficiaries of this operation will be sensitized on Gender-Based Violence (GBV), as one of the key constraints to Cross Border Trade (CBT) for women.
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Implementing
Mano River Union
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Funding
Transition Support Facility
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| IATI identifier | 46002-P-Z1-ID0-009 |
| Last Update | 24 Mar 2023 |
| Name | Nelly Virginia Waithira MAINA |
| n.maina@afdb.org |
| Country | Multinational |
| Coordinates | Location Name |
|---|---|
| 8.37031 -10.21993 | Foya District |
| 7.98877 -11.6734 | Bo District |
| 8.64872 -10.51545 | Koindu |
| 7.10161 -11.21594 | Jendema |