Community-based Facilitators and Chairs of Women's Peace Huts in Bong and Grand Bassa Counties Benefit from Capacity Strengthening Initiative

The Orange Digital Center (ODC) in Monrovia, UN Women Liberia, and Orange Foundation, in partnership with National Peace Hut Women of Liberia (NaPHWoL), recently conducted a Training of Trainers for five peace huts community-based facilitators and two days of capacity building for three Chairs from the NaPHWoL in digital and financial literacy, digitized Savings and Loan Association (SLA) model/methodology and Orange Mobile Money. The objective of the training was to strengthen the capacity of the Facilitators by providing knowledge and skills to support the implementation of digital literacy classes for rural women in the two Women Ditial Centers (WDCs) in Bong and Nimba Counties.

According to the Women's Economic Empowerment Program Manager, Ramon G. Garway, upon completion of the training, the Facilitators are expected to commence the Cycle Three digital literacy classes for 100 (50 per county) new peace hut women and young girls in Totota, Bong, and Tarr Town, Grand Bassa Counties. He mentioned that over the past two years, UN Women Liberia and Orange Foundation have been working to ensure that the two existing WDCs in Bong and Grand Bassa Counties continue to provide peace hut women with access to digital literacy classes and tools. The intervention will address the gender digital divide and promote digital literacy among peace hut women, which is crucial to ensuring equal participation, empowerment, and access to opportunities in the increasingly digital world.

During the training, Aisha Kamara Kolubah, National Project Officer at UN Women, did a presentation on the Buy from Women  (BfW) Platform. According to Ms. Kolubah, the  BfW Platform is a cloud-based enterprise and e-commerce platform that links women farmers and entrepreneurs to market, information, and finance. It addresses the structural barriers faced by women smallholder farmers, equipped entrepreneurs, and small business owners.

Lischen Dwuye Kamara, Orange Money Distribution Manager, led the presentation on a step-by-step guide on the operation of Orange Money. These sessions provided knowledge for the Facilitators who will serve as Orange Money Agents to provide extension and advisory on services for BfW and Orange Money activities in the targeted communities.

Also, at the training,  Zaza Mulba, the Executive Director of the Orange Digital Center, provided detailed information on the available services at the ODC. The Center provides access to digital technology for young people with or without qualifications. It gives them access to the latest technological skills to strengthen their employability and prepare them for jobs. All of the programs are provided free of charge and open to everyone. They ranged from digital trainings for young people, 90% of which are practical guidance for project bearers, and start-up acceleration.