10 Community-led Small Grants for Liberia

The Friends of Liberia Small Grants Program has continued to demonstrate strong demand for community-driven development support across Liberia in 2026. During the first quarter of the year, the program received 65 grant applications from organizations working in communities throughout the country. Following a competitive review process, two projects were selected for funding based on their alignment with the small grants criteria. 

KEEP Liberia Reading 

Project Theory of Change: If 50 teachers are trained in phonics and 1,500 age-appropriate books are distributed through mobile boxes. And if 300 caregivers are trained to reinforce reading at home twice a week. Then 70% of teachers will become effective instructors and 60% of students will reach decoding benchmark. Which will lead to 20 -word -per-minute there will be an increase in oral reading fluency within 12months. Ultimately resulting in 80% of school having self-sustaining literacy committee and long-term-level proficiency.

Project Goal: To improve foundational literacy outcomes for early grade learners through strengthened instruction, increased access to reading materials, and enhanced community engagement.

Project Objectives:

1. Improve reading proficiency among 250 early grade learners.
2. Strengthen the instructional capacity of 50 teachers in phonics and comprehension strategies.
3. Expand access to reading materials through community reading hubs and mobile reading boxes.
4. Increase parental involvement in children’s learning through training and home-based literacy activities.
5. Mobilize communities to champion literacy through reading days and volunteer programs.

Youth Action Lead Liberia's Agroecology for Resilient Livelihoods in Mining-Affected Communities project

The communities of David Dean Town and Yowee, and surrounding areas in Bong County are trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty and environmental decline driven by a dual crisis: destructive mining and climate change. While Liberia's mining sector has historically been viewed as an engine for economic growth, for local communities in Bong County, it has largely resulted in "poverty in the midst of plenty" (SDI Liberia, n.d.).

Project Goal: The overall goal of this project is to improve food security, environmental resilience, and economic self-reliance for 60 farming households in two mining-affected communities (Dean
Town and Yowee) of Bong County by establishing a community-led agroecological farming and enterprise model.

Project Objectives:

1. To establish two 1-acre community-managed agroecological demonstration and production sites on rehabilitated land, featuring integrated soil and water conservation structures, by Month 4 of the project.
2. To train 60 farmers (at least 50% women) from the two affected communities in climate-smart agroecological practices, including composting, crop rotation, intercropping, and natural pest management, resulting in a 75% adoption rate of at least three new techniques by project end.
3. To facilitate the production and harvest of at least three varieties of high-value, nutritious vegetable crops (e.g., okra, peppers, leafy greens) at the two sites, with 50% of the harvest consumed by participating households to improve nutrition and 50% sold collectively.
4. To equip all 60 participating farmers with fundamental agro-entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills through targeted workshops, enabling them to collectively manage sales, reinvest profits, and increase average household income from produce by at least 25% by project end.

In addition to the regular grant cycle, Friends of Liberia provided funding for an ad hoc grant in support of a SHE-CAN candidate. This investment reflects the organization’s commitment to expanding educational and leadership opportunities for young women and supporting emerging leaders who are positioned to contribute to Liberia’s future development.

The primary purpose of her project, The Legacy of Life, is to establish a self-sustaining system of water safety and environmental stewardship in Duazon. This project would aim to eliminate the health risks associated with contaminated open wells and plastic pollution by providing the community with immediate technical solutions, specifically, a sealed mechanical hand pump and a low-cost water filtration system which uses the blueprint of my original water filter that was my entry for the 2025 European Union Rise and Recycle Competition (turning Waste into Wonders). Beyond infrastructure, its purpose is to cultivate a new generation of leaders by training my community study class students to become the primary technicians and "Literacy & Legacy Ambassadors" for these systems.

Beyond direct grantmaking, the small grants program has expanded its capacity-building efforts through the launch of the 2026 Training Series. The series has generated significant interest, with hundreds of nonprofit leaders and practitioners working in Liberia registering to participate. These sessions are designed to strengthen organizational capacity, share practical knowledge, and foster connections among organizations working to address community needs across the country.

Together, the small grants program and training series continue to advance Friends of Liberia’s mission of supporting locally led development and strengthening civil society in Liberia. The high level of engagement seen in both grant applications and training registrations is encouraging! 

Links:

• 2026 Training Series
• Small Grants Webpage