Liberia Agricultural and Environmental Journalists Network (LAEJN) Promote informed journalism and public engagement on agricultural and environmental nalists Network (LAEJN)
By LAEJN Editorial Team
For years, Esther David, a fishmonger in Newcess Town, Grand Bassa County, lived from one uncertain day to the next. Each morning, she headed to the market not knowing whether she would return home with enough money to feed her family, let alone save for the future. On good days, she sold fish and earned a little income. On bad days, she returned home empty-handed. There was no financial cushion, no safety net, and no clear path forward.
Saving money felt out of reach, and providing consistently for her children, especially their education, was a daily struggle.
“I was stranded in life,” Esther recalls quietly. “I used to do different, different things just to survive. Sometimes when I buy the market, business would be very low,” the mother of five children lamented.
Like many women engaged in small-scale fisheries, Esther worked hard but lacked the capital, skills, and financial structure needed to grow her business. Her earnings were easily consumed by immediate needs, leaving nothing to reinvest or save. Any emergency, a sick child, a family obligation, or a sudden loss of stock could wipe out weeks of effort.
Everything began to change when Esther was among 39 women in Newcess Community selected as a beneficiary of the Women Fishmonger Grant Empowerment Program implemented by Conservation International (CI) in collaboration with the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA). The grant scheme is part of the larger Liberia Sustainable Management of Fisheries Project (LSMFP) funded by the World Bank.
Through the program, Esther received two rounds of financial support totaling USD 500, along with hands-on training in basic business management, record-keeping, sustainable practices in fishery management, risk management and mitigation, and savings practices. For the first time, she learned how to plan her business, separate profit from capital, and make deliberate decisions about how her money was used.
“Since CI came into my life, I am now strong enough to stand on my own,” she says with renewed confidence. “Now I know what to do with my money.”
Esther invested the grants directly into her fish trade, buying stock at the right time, managing her pricing, and reinvesting profits instead of spending everything at once. From the first USD 250, she earned approximately LD 50,000 in profit, and from the second USD 250, she generated an additional LD 40,000. These earnings marked a turning point, according to Esther.
“One night while counting my profits, I shared tears. I never believed I could handle that much money. God first, but I thank CI and NaFAA because they have completely changed my life,” Esther beams with joy.
Instead of keeping money only in her hands, Esther began saving intentionally. She took advantage of the Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) in the Newcess community to save her profit with the anticipation of earning additional income from the VSLA initiative.
“When something happens quickly, I can take my money and solve it,” Esther explains. “Before, I didn’t have that opportunity.”
The change in Esther’s household has been profound. She now pays her children’s school fees on time, supports their daily needs without borrowing, and contributes to family emergencies with confidence. What was once a constant source of stress has become a source of pride.
“I support my children only,” she says proudly. “Anything they need, I can try to get it now.”
The grant has also strengthened Esther’s resilience as a businesswoman. When fishing activities slow due to weather or seasonal changes, she is able to shift to other market opportunities to maintain her income. This flexibility, born from better planning and confidence, has made her business stronger and more sustainable.
Beyond financial gains, Esther has experienced a powerful shift in how she is viewed within her community. Fellow traders see her as disciplined and reliable. Customers trust her. Her voice now carries weight in market discussions, and younger women look to her as an example.
“People respect me now,” she says. “They see that I’m managing my business well.”
Esther’s journey from feeling stranded in poverty to standing confidently on her own highlights the transformative impact of investing in women within Liberia’s small-scale fisheries sector. Through targeted financial support, practical business skills, and access to secure savings mechanisms, Esther has moved from daily survival to long-term planning.
Her story shows that when women fishmongers are equipped with the right tools and opportunities, they do more than increase their incomes; they gain confidence, independence, and the ability to support their families and communities. Investing in women like Esther strengthens household livelihoods, builds resilient coastal economies, and reinforces the critical role women play in sustaining Liberia’s fisheries value chain.
Since its inception, the Women Fishmonger Grant Empowerment Program, administered by Conservation International, has been a major game changer for hundreds of women in coastal communities across Grand Cape Mount, Montserrado, Margibi, and Grand Bassa Counties.
