Liberia Day 3

Internet problems yesterday so I'm a day off.

The Chairman National Investment Commissioner debriefed with us again today with the focus on enterprise.  He talked about how as foreign investors come into Liberia wanting to do business, Liberia does not have the local suppliers to work with the investor so they have to go out of country.  Biggest gap right now is developing suppliers along the whole value chain so foreign companies can use Liberian suppliers. I sat there amazed that I was getting access to hear the perspective of the top government official on investment, his plans, and the tie to potential policy.

We also heard from the head of the Central Bank of Liberia and what they are doing to facilitate micro lending because it is so effective and the demand is so high.

We the heard about the Sirleaf Women's Market which is providing micro loans to women working in the markets and improving market conditions.  Specifically, they are 1) providing facilities with protection from rain or sun and with water, 2) providing literacy rooms to teach the women to read when they aren't selling, 3) proving early childhood care so kids aren't left wandering while they sell, and 4) proving microcredit ($50-100)

We then visited another market that was also using microcredit, but offering larger amounts ($1-5k) so women could import goods directly from nearby countries rather than buying locally from a middle man. Another group helps them with a place to stay and transportation for their goods.  Almost everything is imported here since there's no manufacturing yet.  This group operates in the middle of the busiest market in Liberia.   When we arrived, we were greeted by about 40 women all wearing the most beautiful African dresses and head scarfs.  They were so proud of their progress from petty selling from buckets on their heads to having actual "stores" at the market.  They were pulling me from one store to another to take their picture with their wares.

We then traveled outside the city and along bumpy dirt roads to learn about agriculture.  We visited a farm that is helping the village women raise chickens and farm instead of coal burning.  Coal burning is nasty for the person and has major negative impacts on the land and global warming, but it also only has a 10% profit margin.  The eggs generate a 50% profit margin.  We also visited the hut village where they live.

One of the programs the president has put in place in the Presidents Young Professionals.  These are college grads with a B+ gpa who do a two year mentorship program with one of the senior level cabinet members.  There are a few of them with us every day and they are all very bright and friendly.  Today I rode with Moses.  After the hut village he told me he grew up in a similar village and said how much he loved it and how he loves to go home.  He asked me if we had villages like that where I live because they are so great. Hearing that blew away my western notions of happiness  He also asked me if I had paved roads.  Moses will be getting his master's on scholarship in Ghana next year.

There is a women here from a Nigerian philanthropy.  She said she has fallen in love with Liberia because there is so much impact you can make with relatively little dollars.  It was interesting to hear given her knowledge of the various African countries.

Not sure I'll have anymore Internet access for the rest of the trip, but a sneak preview of Day 4. We visited a mining village and were greeted with a gift of a live chicken which Andy had to hold the whole visit and it had to come back with us.