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Our Work
Microfinance
AFRICA
LIBERIA - LEAP
Country Profile
Liberia
- Population:
- 3,042.004
- Capital
- Monrovia
- Major Rel.:
- Christian, Muslim and local beliefs
- Main Lang.:
- Mainly English and other tribal languages
Country: LIBERIA
Project Title: Local Enterprise Assistance Program [LEAP] 2010-1015
Project Designation: 1104
The Need:
The primary reason for beginning microfinance work in Liberia was to serve the financial needs of the Liberian poor both during and after the civil war. World Relief began the Local Enterprise Assistance Project (LEAP) in 1994 but has had to rebuild it on two occasions following new rounds of civil conflict. LEAP is locally registered as an independent non-governmental organization (NGO) microfinance institution (MFI) with four stakeholders: the local NGO - Association of Evangelicals of Liberia, World Relief Canada, World Relief US, and World Hope International.
The plan for 2010-2015 is to support expansion of microfinance services to the poor, while at the same time increasing their sustainability as a contribution to longer-term poverty reduction. Institutional development will include technical and governance support and training, while increasing the number of active clients served to over 22,000 and maintaining a strong loan portfolio.
WRC’S Planned Response for:- Loans provided increased from 15,000 to 22,000 for poor persons [>90% women].
- Training provided to 22,000 clients on credit/business management and various social topics.
- MFI assessment/action plan in place. Regular monitoring and advisory visits conducted to MFI technical and management skills, systems capacity and performance. Two new branches to increase outreach of services to needy communities.
Recent successes: As of March 2011:
- 22,781 Active Borrowers [94% women] have applied microloans to their businesses.
- 22,781 Active Clients have been trained on credit/business management and various social topics.
- MFI client [baseline] research is being planned with WRC staff consulted, offering guidance and funds. Simple market research is ongoing at all branches.
- MFI assessment [baseline diagnostic] and action plan are in place.
- MFI technical/management skills development:
- Quality Control strengthened by creation of two QC teams for MIS data entry and internal audit.
- For senior staff, WRC informed of virtual Microsave conference on book “Portfolios of the Poor”.
- Given rapid clients intensification, branch number will remain at twelve until later in the program.
- Training provided for all loan officers on gender equality and environment by the Ministry of Gender and Development, funded by WRC and UNDP.
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Our Mission
World Relief Canada’s Mission is to respond to the relief and development needs of the world’s poor in the name of Jesus Christ, through our global network of Christian organizations, in partnership with Canadian and overseas Churches.
Our Vision
World Relief Canada’s Vision is to see people responding, with compassion and justice, to the needs of the poor, oppressed and suffering in ways that bring healing and transformation in the world’s poorest communities.
Core Values
World Relief Canada's Core Values are the essential cornerstones upon which we do our work and are reflected in the following six areas.
- Economic Justice
- Transformation
- Empowerment and Equity
- Environmental Integrity
- Mutual Independence
- Financial Accountability
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