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Jacqueline Becko with products that she and women from AWEP produce and sellAWEP Agriculture Training for WomenThis strategy giveswomen access tofinance and creates acondition that willenable them to haveareas of specialization.— Rugie BarryAWEP-L PresidentChevron Liberia Limited partneredwith the African Women’sEntrepreneurship Program (AWEP)on a grant to provide training andbusiness resources to 750 women,mostly in the agriculture industry.AWEP is an international outreach,education and engagement initiativethat has created a network ofwomen entrepreneurs across sub-Saharan Africa and is empoweringthem to transform their localcommunities by owning, runningand operating businesses. LiberianPresident Ellen Johnson Sirleaflaunched a branch of AWEP inLiberia (AWEP-L) in March 2012,and membership is up to 78, withrepresentatives in all 15 counties.In the past, women in Liberia havebeen provided training but notthe tools necessary to produceproducts or maintain sustainablebusinesses. This grant will enableboth. The grant will target womenin agriculture — textiles, arts andcrafts, and farming — by purchasingmachines to process their productsinto finished goods for exportation.AWEP-L is seeking real estate toopen regional business resourcecenters where women can go fortraining and development to helpthem grow their businesses. In themeantime, the organization receivessupport from the Liberian Ministryof Commerce through use of theirlegal counsel and offices.Richard Weaver and Deddeh Howard (ChevronLiberia Limited) with Dale Lawton from the U.S.EmbassyRichard Weaver, Supply Chain Manager of Chevron Liberia Limited, and women from AWEPRugie Barry, AWEP’s Ambassador to Liberia, andRichard Weaver2012 Corporate Responsibility Report | 13