By Amos Harris
Tamba Ralph Brown, Executive Director and Founder of the Liberia Institute for Strategic Studies and Development (LISSD), has officially launched the institution with a firm commitment to conduct independent research and monitor issues affecting Liberia’s national development and natural resources sector.
Brown disclosed on Wednesday during the official launch of LISSD at the Center for the Exchange of Intellectual Opinion (CEIO) on Carey Street in central Monrovia. He stated that the institute aims to strengthen Liberia’s capacity to independently examine national policies, economic activities, and strategic development decisions, reducing sole reliance on information provided by government bodies, international organizations, or private corporations.
According to its official profile, LISSD was established in 2025 as an independent, non-partisan policy research institution dedicated to advancing evidence-based policymaking through rigorous research, inclusive dialogue, and strategic partnerships. A major area of focus for the institute will be Liberia’s natural resources sector, particularly the operations of companies involved in mineral extraction. Brown explained that LISSD intends to independently assess mining activities, trace extracted resources, and evaluate the broader socio-economic implications of these operations for the Liberian public.
Brown emphasized that information regarding the country’s natural wealth should not originate exclusively from government agencies, foreign organizations, or concession holders. Instead, he argued, Liberian researchers and local independent institutions must generate credible data to foster informed public discourse. To achieve this, LISSD plans to collaborate closely with civil society organizations and the Liberian press to disseminate research findings and deepen public understanding of national development and resource-management issues.
Clarifying the institute’s political stance, Brown noted that LISSD is neither an arm of the government nor an opposition group. He stated that the organization’s primary responsibility is to serve the Liberian public interest, remaining dedicated to scrutinizing decisions made by government authorities, private firms, and other entities whenever those actions raise concerns regarding national well-being.
To preserve its credibility, LISSD operates under strict independence guidelines, refusing research funding tied to conditions that could influence its findings and requiring all board members and staff to disclose potential conflicts of interest. The launch comes amidst ongoing national discussions surrounding resource governance, concession agreements, foreign investment, and public accountability, positioning LISSD as a new platform for locally driven research, policy analysis, and civic oversight.