The National Elections Commission (NEC) of Liberia has launched its six-year Strategic Plan for the period 2018-2024.

The launch, held Thursday at the James M. Fromayan Conference Hall, was officiated by NEC’s Co-Chairperson Cllr. Sarah M. Jegede Toe.

In her address, Cllr. Toe informed the audience that the Strategic Plan had been conceived through a series of consultations and internal discussions that reassessed the purpose of the Commission based on the environment in which it operates.

“During the last planning cycle (2012-2018), the NEC successfully conducted the 2014 Special Senatorial Election, the 2017 General Elections and several By-elections,” she noted.

According to Counselor Toe, the new Strategic Plan builds on the work done over the past years to envision a strategic direction that highlights NEC’s commitment to developing its staff professionally through a culture of excellence, fairness, respect and collaboration as well as a reaffirmation to conduct impartial and independent elections for the people of Liberia.

Other speakers of the day included NEC’s Oversight Commissioner in charge of Gender, Civic Education and Public Information Davidetta Browne Lansanah, who gave an overview of the components of the NEC’s Strategic Plan 2018-24.

Ms. Browne highlighted the five pillars laid out in the Strategic Plan. “Pillar one deals with the ‘Legal framework’ which governs the Commission,” said Commissioner Lansanah. She added that it was important for the Commission to conduct its work within the framework of the laws of Liberia.

According to the Commissioner, the second pillar highlights the relationship of the Commission with its Stakeholders. “It’s important to harness the relationship between the NEC and its stakeholders, especially Political Parties so that they understand electoral processes with respect to the law and NEC’s mandate so that they can abide by the rules,” she said.

The third pillar focuses on ‘Elections Education and Public Information’ which include outreach activities through Civic and Voter Education, as well as media capacity building and engagement in an effort to reach electoral stakeholders in the remotest part of Liberia.

Pillars four and five of the Strategic Plan provide for ‘Institutional Strengthening of the NEC and ‘Electoral Operations. “The NEC seeks to operationalize elections in an effective way in view of developing Biometric Voter Registration and conducting constituency delineation,” said Lansanah.

Also making remarks, UNDP Programme Analyst, Yvonne Wolo congratulated the NEC for accomplishing this great milestone. She recognized the overwhelming support from other Development Partners including the European Union, the Governments of Canada, Ireland and Sweden for their contribution towards the development of the NEC’s Strategic Plan 2018-2024.

“UNDP is committed to supporting the democratic process of Liberia and hopes that the Plan will guide the implementation of the Commission’s activities,” Wolo noted.

At the same time, European Union Representative Laura Virgili congratulated the NEC for launching the new Strategic Plan 2018-2024.  Ms. Virgil emphasized that the European Union together with other Development Partners support several electoral activities”.

“The Strategic Plan is the basis for implementation of all other programmes intended to improve transparency as well as good governance within the Commission,” she added.

Commissioner Jonathan. K. Weedor of the NEC showered appreciation to all stakeholders especially the Commission’s staff, members of Political Parties and the Development Partners for their contributions towards the development of NEC’s Strategic Plan.

The launch was attended by members of the Commission’s Board, Development Partners, Political Parties, Civil Society Organizations and the media.