The African Development Bank (AfDB) is set to support over 1,500 women engaged in informal trade between the Liberia and Sierra Leone border, with the aim of increasing their income status. According to the Mano River Union Secretariat, which will oversee the program, the project is a USD 4.2 million grant from the African Development Bank to support and empower women traders via the bank’s “Building Inclusive Business Ecosystem” initiative. A statement by the bank said the grant is aimed at boosting business formalization among women traders and fueling new programs designed for gender-responsive, climate-resilient, and low-carbon cross-border value chains. Amel Hamza, the bank’s acting director for gender, women, and civil society said the project is an innovation that delivers upon their gender mainstreaming commitments. It is also aimed at aligning with the bank’s gender strategy, specifically on enhancing access to finance and technical assistance for women entrepreneurs.