MONROVIA, Montserrado – At the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s flagship conference this week to promote micro, small, and medium enterprises the focus has been on highlighting the role of women entrepreneurs in Liberia.

Axel M. Addy, the Minister of Commerce, said Liberian women are underrepresented among the ranks of entrepreneurs and are often excluded from crucial economic activities.

Speaking on the first day of the four-day conference at the Monrovia City Hall, he said even though women make up half of the population, “most women-owned businesses are found in less productive sectors and remain largely invisible in corporate and government supply chains.”

Commerce Minister Axel Addy. Photo: Zeze Ballah

According to Addy, women are only in charge of one in five exporting companies globally and in Liberia, they remain predominantly employed in the informal sector and occupy low-skilled jobs.

He attributed the disparity to various obstacles, ranging from education – only 32 percent of Liberian women are literate compared to 62 percent of males – to access to credit.

Despite the challenges, Addy said the role of women in the Liberian economy “cannot be overstated.” He described them as dynamic entrepreneurs and said 69 percent of Liberia women are likely to start their own businesses, compared to 56 percent of men.

Addy was not the only one underlining the need to boost women entrepreneurs. Sheryl Cowan, vice president of programs at Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture, was a guest speaker. Her organization implements the USAID-funded Feed the Future Liberia Agriculture Development Activity. She said the program had placed a special emphasis on boosting entrepreneurship among women.

LADA, USAID’s flagship agriculture program in Liberia after the end of the Food and Enterprise Development program, aims to improve the productivity and profitability of smallholder farmers through increased private sector investment in Liberia’s agribusinesses. LADA is targeting four counties, namely Bong, Lofa, Montserrado, and Nimba.

Sheryl Cowan, vice president of programs at Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture, spoke about the USAID-funded LADA program. Photo: Zeze Ballah

Cowan said the project would ensure that women were integrated in its various activities. Although LADA would engage both males and females, she said the program would specifically focus on women, considering their limited role and participation in the country’s agriculture sector.

A particular focus for LADA will be on entrepreneurs involved in post-harvest handling, storage, packaging, transportation and other services that function to add value to agricultural products.

The conference’s keynote speaker was Eyvonne Bright Harding, chief executive officer of Shark’s, Liberia’s largest producer and supplier of ice cream.

Eyvonne Bright Harding (centered), founded Shark’s, Liberia’s largest producer and supplier of ice cream. Photo: Zeze Ballah

Harding, who has been in the ice cream business for over twenty years, narrated her story of starting as an entrepreneur after securing a US$150 loan from a friend.

She paid tribute to several other women entrepreneurs who preceded her and praised the Ministry of Commerce for its push to implement laws mandating that five percent of the government’s budget be spent on women-owned businesses. However, Harding challenged the government to enforce its laws, especially the Liberianization policy which sets aside certain businesses for Liberians.

Featured photo by Lloyd Massah