IPNEWS: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative to Liberia, Aliou Mamadou Dia, along with Deputy Resident Representative, Louis Kuukpen, on Tuesday led a UNDP delegation on a courtesy visit to the Acting Chairperson of the National Elections Commission (NEC), Jonathan Weedor, at the Commission’s headquarters in Monrovia.
The visit reaffirmed the longstanding partnership between UNDP and the NEC and underscored their continued collaboration to strengthen democratic governance, advance electoral reforms, enhance institutional capacity, and support the digital transformation of Liberia’s electoral processes.
Speaking during the meeting, Mr. Dia congratulated Mr. Weedor on his appointment and assured the NEC of UNDP’s unwavering support.
“We are here to assure you of our full commitment to working with the entire Commission,” Mr. Dia said. “Liberia set an example for the world during the 2023 general elections with a peaceful democratic transition. We want to build on that momentum.”
Mr. Dia noted that UNDP, in collaboration with partners including the European Union, Sweden, Ireland, UN Women, and other development partners, remains committed to supporting credible, inclusive, and transparent elections in Liberia.
He emphasized that the successful conduct of elections in Liberia has strengthened international confidence in the country’s democratic institutions.
“It is not always that people believe elections in Africa will lead to peaceful transfers of power, but Liberia demonstrated democratic maturity in 2023,” he added.
For his part, Mr. Kuukpen highlighted the importance of sustaining electoral reforms ahead of the 2029 elections and adapting to evolving global electoral trends.
“Elections are transforming, and electoral management institutions must evolve with changing realities,” Mr. Kuukpen said. “The reforms that are underway are critical to laying the foundation for credible and transparent elections in the future.”
He also encouraged continued engagement through the National Elections Steering Committee and stressed the need for sustained collaboration between the NEC and development partners.
In response, Acting NEC Chairperson Jonathan Weedor welcomed the UNDP delegation and acknowledged the historic role UNDP has played in strengthening Liberia’s electoral system since the end of the civil conflict.
“UNDP and the NEC are not strangers,” Mr. Weedor said. “Following the civil conflict, UNDP played a critical role in transforming Liberia’s electoral system, from voter registration reforms to staff training and broader institutional support.”
Mr. Weedor pledged to deepen the collaboration with UNDP and other international partners during his tenure.
“Under my chairmanship, the relationship will continue to grow stronger,” he stated. “Our goal is to strengthen the electoral process and ensure that Liberia remains a voice for democracy in West Africa.”
The Acting Chairperson outlined three key priorities for the NEC under his leadership:
- Advancing electoral reforms
- Strengthening relationships with political parties to reduce tensions and build trust
- Investing in staff capacity development
He also underscored the importance of digital transformation in electoral management.
“The world is moving from manual systems to digital systems,” Mr. Weedor noted. “If we want to maintain credibility and transparency in voter registration and election management, we must invest in digitalization.”
The courtesy visit forms part of ongoing engagement between UNDP and national institutions aimed at consolidating democratic governance and strengthening public confidence in Liberia’s electoral processes.
The Liberia Electoral Support Project (LESP) is managed by UNDP in partnership with UNWomen and NIMD, with funding from the European Union, the Governments of Ireland, and Sweden.
It seeks to strengthen democratic governance by promoting inclusive, transparent, peaceful, and accountable electoral processes in Liberia.
