A two-day monitoring and evaluation workshop organized by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry with funding from UNPD, has concluded in Ganta, Nimba County.
According to a release, the objective of the two-day gathering held from June 27 28, 2024 was to discuss lessons learned from 2022 and 2023 implementation cycle, share experiences, evaluate results, consider successes for replication and clearly come up with solutions that will improve in any area where the project did not perform as anticipated.
It was part of the UNDP’s sponsored US$7,817,000.00 Livelihood and Employment Creation Project in Liberia that is being implemented by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry with focus on vulnerable communities and less privileged people.
Taking into consideration a Commerce Ministry and UNDP joint evaluation reports and testimonies from beneficiaries, the project is making significant impact in the country.
The rewarding nature of the project was once more demonstrated through great testimonies from the beneficiaries during the two-day workshop.
The beneficiaries lauded the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the UNDP for helping them improve their lives through the project.
They vowed to ensure that the funds being provided would always be used for the intended purpose.
Speaking at the opening of the two-day workshop, Deputy Commerce Minister for Administration, Scholastica Tanneh Nyenkan-Nimley said, the Commerce Ministry has been keen about undertaking programs that are intended to help needy Liberians improve their living conditions.
For his part, Deputy Commerce Minister for Small Business Administration, Benedict Amos Dolo admonished the beneficiaries to always work in cluster in order to ensure that ideas are shared.
Deputy Minister Dolo also encouraged the beneficiaries to take constructive steps that will help them lessen their dependence on donors.
The project, with a five-year life span, is being implemented in seven of Liberia’s fifteen counties; Montserrado, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Bassa, Nimba and Lofa. Beneficiaries included women, refugees, the youth, and People living with disabilities.
It can be recalled that in 2022-2023, the UNDP through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry implemented series of activities through the approved annual work plans to support livelihood and employment creation that included Growth Accelerator, Youth Business Plan Competition, Youth Eco brigade, Youth Cadet & amp; Internship Program, Cash for Work Program ,etc.