SOCIAL MICROFINANCING PROGRAM
In Liberia, the agriculture and small business sectors account for approximately 34% of national GDP and employ nearly two-thirds of the population. Women form the backbone of this workforce; 80% of farmers are women, yet they continue to face significant barriers to economic participation. Access to training, business loans, financial services, and markets is often out of reach, particularly for women and young girls in rural communities.
Despite their critical contributions, rural women, single mothers, and other underserved groups are frequently excluded from the formal financial system. This exclusion limits their ability to grow businesses, support their families, and invest in education, health, and community development—perpetuating cycles of poverty.
Our Approach
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The Learning Squared Liberia Social Microfinance Program bridges this gap by combining access to capital with training, mentorship, and peer support. The program empowers women and young girls to:
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Launch or expand income-generating activities
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Improve household income and resilience
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Invest in children’s education and family well-being
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And assume leadership roles in their communities
Program Structure
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By fostering collective responsibility and creating sustainable community systems, the program strengthens local economies from the ground up. We recruit groups of 15–25 women from rural communities.
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Participants undergo a 5-day intensive training course touching on:
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Business management
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Leadership and governance
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Record-keeping
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Financial literacy
Following training, each woman receives an initial loan of $100 and begins a 12–18-week program, which includes weekly meetings and mentoring. The group determines the payment ratio at a 10% contribution toward support for new borrowers.
More than 80% of participants are existing micro-entrepreneurs, including:
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Petty traders
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Smallholder farmers
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Food processors
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Artisans
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Single mothers
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Women engaged in both on-farm and off-farm activities
Impact and Reach
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As of 2025, the program has:
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Disbursed over 1000+ microloans to women in more than 10 communities across five counties
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Achieved a 98% loan recovery rate
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Reached 4,000+ indirect beneficiaries, including family and community members
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Developed a scalable, community-based economic model that transitions women and young girls into self-sufficient entrepreneurs within 12–24 months
The program's revolving loan fund ensures long-term sustainability, as funds are recycled to support new beneficiaries. The combination of financial access, social support, and entrepreneurial training has made this one of the most promising models for poverty alleviation and women’s economic empowerment in rural Liberia.
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Why it Works
The program’s success lies in its integrated approach; pairing financial access with skills training, social support, and local leadership development. This model strengthens economies from the ground up, making it one of Liberia’s most promising tools for poverty alleviation and women’s economic empowerment.
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Why it Matters
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Learning Squared Liberia prioritizes social protection, inclusive economic development, and scalable solutions tailored to the realities of rural women. This program is not just about building better businesses; it’s about building stronger communities, more resilient families, and a pathway out of poverty.
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