The Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) held its Second National Stakeholders’ Workshop on April 29 in Ganta as part of the development process for the National Financial Inclusion and Education Strategy (NFIES) 2026–2030, underscoring practical barriers to expanding financial services in rural markets.
The one-day meeting gathered government agencies, development partners, financial-service providers and agribusiness actors to focus on “The Last Mile Reality: Usage, Liquidity and Agricultural Value Chains.” The bank said the session aimed to move the discussion beyond access to sustained usage of savings, credit, payments, insurance and remittances, and to ensure policy translates into on the ground outcomes.
CBL officials flagged persistent liquidity constraints at rural agent points as a major operational impediment, limiting withdrawals and transactional continuity and eroding user trust in formal channels. The bank said addressing cash management and liquidity provisioning at agent networks is essential to boost adoption and regular use.
Agriculture, which remains central to Liberia’s GDP and employment, was highlighted as a priority for tailored financial products. Participants — including farmers, cooperatives, VSLAs, microfinance institutions and rural finance providers — recommended solutions that align credit, insurance and payment services with seasonal cycles and value chain needs to support productivity and incomes.
The workshop also reviewed progress under the NFIS 2020–2024, validated assessment findings, and solicited stakeholder inputs to shape an evidence based NFIES for 2026–203. CBL emphasized decentralizing consultations — choosing Ganta, a major commercial hub outside Monrovia — to capture regional perspectives and constraints.
Development partners including the Alliance for Financial Inclusion, the World Bank and the U.S. Office of Technical Assistance provided technical support, the bank said. CBL reiterated its commitment to an inclusive financial ecosystem that advances economic growth, financial stability and livelihoods, while signaling that implementation will require coordination across public, private and donor stakeholders.
