MONROVIA, LIBERIA-Scores of vulnerable market women in the FDA Community in Paynesville say they have been marginalized by the Supervisors of the World Bank grant, intended for them under the REALISE Project.
The amount of nine hundred US dollars was earmarked for each beneficiary of the fund to improve their businesses.
Seven months ago, the REALISE Project Team selected about four hundred persons to benefit from the grant, using a raffle draw approach, a process that has been hugely criticized by marketers and the Community Leadership.
Speaking in an ELBC interview, the aggrieved marketers called for the Liberian Government’s intervention to enable them to benefit from the fund.
They disclosed that recently, REALISE Project Supervisors gave some individuals four hundred fifty US dollars as an initial amount of the nine hundred US dollars earmarked.
Meanwhile, Supervisors of the Project have persistently refused to comment on the transparency of the process.
Organizations, both local and international, usually captured in their programs some level of support for the underprivileged. Some of the supports come through grants like the one from the World Bank, intended to empower vulnerable market women for sustainable livelihood.
The process must therefore be truly transparent to justify donors’ objective for accountability.
By: Victor Kezelee
