Monrovia, September 26, 2024 — The Recovery of Economic Activity for Liberian Informal Sector Employment (REALISE) Project is set to make a significant impact in twelve flood-prone communities across Montserrado County. This initiative will be spearheaded by the Labor-Intensive Public Works (LIPW) component, which aims to provide temporary employment opportunities through community service initiatives.
Jerry Godu, the lead for the LIPW component, emphasized the project’s commitment to community engagement. He stated, “Beneficiaries will participate in essential activities such as garbage collection, waste disposal, drainage cleaning, and the promotion of hygiene and sanitation.” These activities not only enhance community infrastructure but also improve public health and environmental conditions.
In addition to immediate employment, Mr. Godu highlighted the project’s focus on long-term benefits. He remarked, “The project will provide access to income-generating opportunities through labor subsidies, as well as life skills and employability development training that participants can utilize beyond their involvement in the REALISE project.”
The REALISE Project aims to achieve its goals through a community-driven development approach, prioritizing small-scale, labor-intensive public works alongside essential training programs. The selected flood-risk communities have been identified through collaboration with the National Disaster Management Agency and enumerated by the REALISE Project team.
To facilitate community involvement, the project will host an engagement meeting to present a list of subprojects related to climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Community members will have the opportunity to review these options and select the initiatives they wish to implement, ensuring that the solutions are tailored to their specific needs and priorities.
This proactive approach not only seeks to mitigate the effects of flooding but also fosters resilience and self-sufficiency within the affected communities, paving the way for sustainable economic recovery.