Fighting Poverty in Liberia

Facts about Liberia

Liberia is Africa’s oldest republic. Around 250,000 people were killed in Liberia’s civil war, and many thousands more fled the fighting. Big programs are under way to address the shortage of electricity and running water. Corruption is rife and unemployment and illiteracy are endemic.

Liberia, along with much of sub-Saharan Africa, is on the verge of a crisis. By 2035, the International Monetary Fund estimates the number of Africans joining the working age population will exceed the rest of the world combined. To fill this surge, 18 million new jobs will have to be created each year for the next 20 years across sub-Saharan Africa. In the meantime, Liberians rely on the informal sector for a chance to earn a living. In addition, access to basic services, like energy, water and sanitation, education, health care and agriculture, is often inadequate.

When poor people have access to financial services and life-enhancing products, they can earn more, build their assets, create jobs and cushion themselves against external shocks. FINCA is helping Liberians improve their lives by supporting access to basic services through FINCA Ventures.