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Liberia

Win with Women Event

As Liberia prepares for the country’s second national elections since the end of armed conflict in 2003, citizens are looking to the government to consolidate peace gains and improve living standards. Liberians will vote in a national referendum on four constitutional amendments in August 2011, followed by presidential and legislative elections in either October or November, depending on the referendum’s outcome. Liberians made history during the 2005 elections by electing Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first woman president in Africa, as well as the most diverse legislature in Liberia's history, with women constituting 12 percent of the House of Representatives and 17 percent of the Senate.

Five years since this historic election, much of the country's infrastructure has been rehabilitated, but chronic unemployment, a precarious security situation, and the country's poor road network threaten these encouraging developments.

In 2009, the Liberian Legislature adopted a five-year legislative modernization plan (LMP) to improve the ability of lawmakers to fulfill their representative, oversight and lawmaking functions in support of the country’s recovery and longer-term development. The LMP identifies concrete measures to address shortcomings in three key areas: lawmakers’ understanding of and ability to carry out their duties; staff ability to support the legislative process; and infrastructure needs. The legislature has taken on a host of important issues including passing legislation that created a transparent regulatory framework for natural resource industries, adopting a Freedom of Information Act and establishing a legislative budget office that will support the legislature with the annual budget process.

Current Activities

NDI is implementing a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded program to support the modernization and development of the Liberian Legislature and enhance the credibility of the 2011 election process. Specifically, NDI has worked with the Joint Legislative Modernization Committee (JLMC) since 2006 as it implements its strategic development plan. NDI assistance includes: 1) support for the development of sustainable systems and institutional practices to improve the effectiveness of the legislature; 2) training and support for legislative staff to improve their ability to respond to members’ requests and manage day-to-day legislative operations; and 3) enhancing the ability of legislators to fulfill their representative, lawmaking and oversight roles.

In cooperation with the House Democracy Partnership and with funding from USAID, NDI oversaw the refurbishment of the physical facilities of the Legislature’s library and archives, and acquired a collection of regional publications and legal texts for the library. The Institute is providing ongoing training and mentoring for library, research and archive staff to meet the legislature’s research needs. In addition, NDI is helping to establish the Legislative Budget Office, and is providing training and coaching to select legislative staff on budget analysis and the preparation of briefing documents for legislators to use in public hearings on the government’s annual budget.

In November 2010, NDI expanded its programming to support Liberia’s 2011 election process. NDI is providing technical and financial assistance to the Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC), a coalition of civic groups dedicated to enhancing the credibility of the 2011 electoral process. The ECC will be fielding observers for both the referendum and the general elections.

In addition, NDI will be supporting radio programming focused on voter education and assisting with the organization of legislative candidate debates.

  • Listen to Our Liberia, a discussion of the political campaign period, the recent Supreme Court Ruling and civil society's preparations for upcoming elections (6/28/2011)

  • Listen to Reconciliation Road, a drama in which the Coconut Town Redemption Party awaits the ruling (6/30/11)

Past Programs

NDI worked with Liberian democrats in the lead up to the 1997 elections, but left the country temporarily in 1998 due to security concerns.

NDI returned to Liberia in 2003 to support Liberia’s transition, providing technical support to civic organizations monitoring the transition process and implementing voter education programs.

The Institute stepped up electoral assistance in 2005 by supporting the work of a domestic election monitoring coalition that observed and reported on every aspect of the elections. With the International Republican Institute and the Press Union of Liberia, NDI organized candidate forums and debates during the campaign.

In partnership with The Carter Center, NDI conducted pre-election assessment missions and two high-profile international election observation delegations under the leadership of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, former Beninese President Nicephore Soglo and former Nigerian Vice President Alex Ekwueme.

Following the elections, NDI co-organized town hall meetings in which recently elected legislators met with constituents in their districts to foster dialogue between citizens and their elected representatives on issues of national interest.

Beginning in 2006, NDI worked to strengthen the capacity of the legislature to respond more effectively to the needs of constituents. The program helped legislative committees perform lawmaking roles and exercise constructive oversight of the executive branch. NDI also worked to enhance the ability of Liberian legislators to communicate citizen interests and to assist in holding elected and public officials accountable.

To assist assembly members to respond more effectively to citizens’ needs, NDI facilitated town hall meetings for newly elected representatives and their constituents, and worked with local civic groups to educate citizens on how to hold government officials accountable. NDI also worked with the legislature to organize public hearings on key pieces of legislation. Past hearings have covered the 2008/2009 budget, an act to establish an anti-corruption commission, and media and human rights legislation. Through grants awarded locally, the Institute offered technical and financial assistance to Liberian civil society organizations to support civic education and advocacy.

In May 2009, NDI concluded a four-month NED-funded program to assist the legislature with analysis of draft electoral reform legislation seen as key to the success of future elections. During the course of the program, NDI worked closely with members of legislative committees responsible for electoral reform, who analyzed and debated the pending legislation, conducted media outreach on their work, and organized three public hearings to incorporate citizen and expert opinions.

Funding

NDI’s current program in Liberia is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Contact Information

For more information about these programs, use our contact form or contact:

Liberia
Alexander Chavarria, Resident Director
+231.770.26.627

Washington, D.C.
Gemima Barlow, Senior Program Manager
202.728.6343

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