Liberia participates in training launch of ECOWAS 50 MAWS Platform launch in Senegal

Liberia as a member state of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is participating along with other member countries, including countries within the regions of COMESA and EAC in a training on the use and management of the ECOWAS 50 Million African Women Speak Platform in Saly, Senegal from June 26-28, 2019. The main objective of this workshop is for the Local Content Managers from the member states is to learn about the utility of the platform and how to update its contents for users across the region to benefit from the information. The “50MW” will address gender-related barriers such as: lower level of education and business training, weak poverty rights that deprive girls and women of collateral and tangible assets as well as legal and regulatory barriers. The 50MWS Project also aims at contributing to the economic empowerment of women through the provision of networking platforms to access information on financial and non-financial services so that they can start, grow or scale up their businesses. Representing Liberia were Mr. Stanford H. Peabody, Local Content Manager of the 50 Million Speak Platform and Mr. Mohammed Odu Massaquoi of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection of the Republic of Liberia. The Gender Ministry is the focal ministry of the 50 Million African Women Speak platform in Liberia and Mr. Massaquoi is the focal person. The platform was launched in Liberia in March of 2019 putting Liberia amongst the 12 member states to participate in the ground breaking program. During the launch in Liberia, a Country Team was inaugurated. Members of Liberia’s County Team of the “50MWS” are Jacob Baccus Borweh, Sr., (Patriotic Entrepreneur of Liberia); Korlu Jallah Sango (Liberia Marketing Association); Lena T. Cummings (Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia); Kpannah T. Itoka (Young Women’s Christian Association); Joyce Y. Tuah (Ministry of Information) and Leelai M. Kpukuyou (Africa Youth & Women’s Empowerment Initiative). Others are Doreen McIntosh (Liberia Banker’s Association), Fatu Addy (Liberia Chamber of Commerce), Hawa Dunor Varney (Adolescent Girls Division, Gender Ministry), Siah Vanesser Hare (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Kebeh Monger (Liberia National Rural Women), Marthaline Davis (Federation of Liberian Youth), Barbara Z. Quie (Ministry of Agriculture), Irene B. Wallace (ECOWAS Commission in Liberia), Luopu K. Cooper (ECOWAS National Office), Loretta Pope (National ECOWAS Young Women Network), Mmonbeydo Herron (ECOWAS Women Network for Peace & Security) and Stanford Peabody (ECOWAS 50 Million Women Speak Platform Project).