(Monrovia, Monday, June 1, 2020): - The Government of Liberia (GOL) through the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and the World Bank’s funded Smallholder Agriculture Transformation and Agribusiness Revitalization Project (STAR-P), on today launched a US$ 10,000 matching grant for each of the would-be selected small and medium enterprise agribusinesses to mitigate the COVID 19 shocks on their businesses. 

This is part of the recent GOL-MoA’s COVID 19 Food Security, Nutrition and Livelihood Plan which the World Bank, a major donor in the Liberian agriculture sector, endorsed.

It targets both the formal and informal agribusinesses by giving out matching grants to more than 40 Formalized MSMEs Agribusinesses, input service providers and agro-dealers, aggregators at an amount up to 10,000 on a 60:40% matching grant basis; and about 60 Informal MSMEs agribusinesses, input service providers and agro-dealers, aggregators at a maximum of $1,000.

The selected ones would go through a two-day training on small business management by a certified business development service provider. 

Minister Jeanine Milly Cooper asserts, “We know how our already-struggling agribusinesses are feeling the impacts of this pandemic; and for reason, mobilizing support for these agribusinesses is one of key focus of this Government. We will also seek means for them for thrive and grow to contribute to Liberia’s economic growth”. 

She said the selection of beneficiaries will be competitive, opened and transparent through a panel that will be closely monitored by the MoA and the World Bank to ensure that grants reached the deserving beneficiaries and are impactful.  

“The objective of this grant is to help increase the capacities of those to engage in agribusiness market linkages and procurement opportunities in agro supply chains in the affected counties. The program activities will focus on SMEs involved or linked to the Agribusiness sector such as rice, horticulture, cassava and oil palm”, the plan says.

Eligibility criteria and how to apply

For the formal agribusinesses, there are list of conditions to be met that include:

1. Business registration (at least valid up to March 2020)
2. Tax clearance (at least valid up to March 2020)
3. Complete the simplified online application form. 
4. ID copies of Directors/Members (Passport, driving license, or voter’s identity card)
5. Must be an active agribusiness entity
6. Must have linkage to Agro SMEs
7. Six months’ bank statement or latest Annual Financial Statements or Management Accounts not older than six months as at the application date;
8. Business profile; and 
9. Estimations for funding requested.

For the informal agribusinesses: 

1. Duly filled application form
2. Identity proof: passport, driving license, or national identity card
3. Must be an active agribusiness entity
4. Must have linkage to Agro SMEs
5. Complete the simplified online application form. 

Application Process 

1)      Download application form the MoA website (to be uploaded by Tuesday, June 2)

2)      Upload Required Supporting Documents

3)      Send completed application form and required documents not later than 4:00pm, June 11, 2020 to: starp-msmegrant@moa.gov.lr

The MoA says women and youth are encouraged to apply and head of enterprise must have a minimum of a high school diploma.

GRANT APPLICATION FORMS

INFORMAL BUSINESS Grant Application Form -Fill form online

FORMALIZED BUSINESS Grant Application - Fill form online