World Bank Highlights Jobs Investment Gains-Social Protection Reportedly Boosts Income, Resilience

MONROVIA – New findings from the World Bank on Liberia’s social protection programs highlight a growing consensus among policymakers that investments in people—through skills, cash support, and access to capital—can deliver measurable economic gains. Evidence presented at a high-level seminar in Monrovia shows significant improvements in income, employment, school enrollment, and food security. The results reinforce Liberia’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development and underline the importance of data-driven policymaking in tackling poverty and unemployment. As Liberia confronts economic pressures and youth joblessness, the findings offer practical guidance on scaling interventions that combine social protection with productivity and private-sector opportunity. THE ANALYST reports.

The World Bank Liberia Country Office has announced new findings showing that investments in people through targeted social protection programs can significantly increase jobs, productivity, and community resilience across Liberia.

The findings were presented Tuesday, February 24, at a high-level seminar titled “From Evidence to Scale: Jobs and Productivity Insights from Liberia’s Social Protection Portfolio.” The seminar examined how evidence-based investments in skills, income support, and business development can strengthen economic growth.

HIGH-LEVEL SEMINAR HELD IN MONROVIA

Chaired by World Bank Liberia Country Manager Georgia Wallen, the seminar discussed how evidence can inform policies that create jobs and raise productivity.

The event was attended by Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection Hon. Gbeme Horace Kollie, Deputy Minister for Economic Management at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning Hon. Dehpue Y. Zuo, and other government leaders, development partners, youth representatives, and practitioners.

Participants emphasized that combining income support with skills development, coaching, access to capital, market linkages, and digital and financial inclusion can deliver strong economic and social returns.

Evidence from Liberia showed gains in incomes, savings, business ownership, labor supply, and food security, alongside improved school enrollment and increased economic empowerment for women.

RESULTS FROM SOCIAL PROTECTION PROGRAMS

The seminar presented findings from five randomized controlled trials conducted between 2019 and 2024, covering Liberia’s social cash transfer program, a small business support intervention, and a community agriculture and livelihoods support program.

The results were consistent with global evidence, showing that cost-effective, time-bound interventions addressing key constraints—such as access to capital, skills, and information—can help poor and vulnerable households move into more productive work.

According to the findings, the Social Cash Transfer program increased household income by 57 percent and school enrollment by 10 percent, and the Community Agriculture and Livelihoods intervention increased hours worked by 38 percent, harvests sold by 13 percent, reduced community conflict by 21 percent, and reduced food insecurity by 10 percent.

The findings also indicate that Small Business Support intervention increased business ownership by 65 percent, weekly income by 25 percent, and life satisfaction by 27 percent.

Participants noted that these results support Liberia’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (2025–2030) and demonstrate the role of social protection in driving inclusive growth.

REALISE PROJECT TO SCALE RESULTS

The evidence presented at the seminar has informed the design of the Recovery of Economic Activity for Liberian Informal Sector Employment (REALISE) project, which is scaling these interventions with financing from the World Bank, the French Development Agency, and the Government of Sweden.

Development partners commended Liberia’s authorities for their leadership in generating evidence and scaling programs that work.

Officials said Liberia’s longstanding partnership with the World Bank reflects a renewed focus on knowledge-driven development, ensuring that global evidence informs national policy.

SOCIAL PROTECTION AS ECONOMIC POLICY

Participants concluded that jobs-oriented social protection is a powerful tool for advancing inclusive growth, resilience, and economic transformation—especially for young people and women.

They stressed that grounding investments in robust evidence is essential to turning knowledge into action at scale.

The seminar underscored that in a rapidly changing global economy, innovation, education, and targeted social support programs can help countries like Liberia build stronger, more resilient communities.

Liberia continues to face high youth unemployment and poverty challenges. Evidence that social protection programs can increase income, employment, and stability offers policymakers practical strategies for economic growth.

Analysts say scaling such programs could help Liberia build human capital, support entrepreneurship, and strengthen resilience against economic shocks.