Monrovia, Liberia; July 6, 2026: The National Elections Commission (NEC) on 2 July 2026 launched the final phase of regional consultations on its draft Communications Strategy, Policy and Protocol in Monrovia, marking the culmination of a nationwide stakeholder engagement process aimed at strengthening the Commission’s institutional communications.
The two-day consultation brought together 30 participants, including journalists from leading media institutions in Montserrado County, staff of the NEC Secretariat, and representatives of media development organizations, to review and validate the draft documents before their finalization.
Organized by the NEC and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the Liberia Electoral Support Project, with support from the European Union, Ireland, and Sweden, the consultation provides an important platform for dialogue among the Commission, media practitioners, and civil society organizations.
Opening the consultation on behalf of the Board of Commissioners and NEC Chairperson Jonathan K. Weedor, Commissioner Ernestine Morgan Awar reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to strengthening transparency, accountability, and public confidence through more effective electoral communication.
“The NEC recognizes that effective communication is indispensable to the successful administration of credible, inclusive, and peaceful elections. Through timely, accurate, and consistent communication, we build public confidence, combat misinformation and disinformation, and ensure that citizens remain informed throughout the electoral process,” Commissioner Awar said.
She described the media as one of the NEC’s most valued partners and emphasized that the Commission is modernizing its communication systems to respond to evolving technologies, changing public expectations, and the demands of an increasingly digital information environment.
“Your recommendations will contribute significantly to developing a communication framework that strengthens institutional coordination, enhances stakeholder engagement, and reinforces public trust in the Commission,” she added.
Speaking on behalf of the Liberia Electoral Support Project, Roosevelt Zayzay highlighted the project’s continued support to the NEC in strengthening its strategic communication capacity since before the 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections.
“The draft Communications Strategy, Policy and Protocol are not merely documents but institutional tools that will help the NEC communicate more proactively and consistently, strengthen stakeholder engagement, improve public access to electoral information, enhance crisis communication and information management, combat misinformation and disinformation, and build public trust in Liberia’s electoral processes,” Zayzay said.
He encouraged participants to use the consultation to identify any remaining gaps and provide practical recommendations to strengthen implementation of the Strategy, Policy, and Protocol.
The President of the Press Union of Liberia, Julius Kanubah, commended the NEC for undertaking an inclusive nationwide consultation process that engaged journalists and election officials from across the country.
“The integrity of elections is a shared responsibility of all actors in the electoral process,” Kanubah said. “While the NEC bears the primary responsibility as the electoral management body, achieving credible elections requires meaningful engagement with the media.”
He called on journalists to continue upholding the highest standards of fairness, accuracy, impartiality, and responsibility. He also urged the NEC to institutionalize a sustainable partnership with the media beyond election periods, including through civic and voter education initiatives.
The Monrovia consultation builds on recommendations generated during earlier consultations held in Ganta and Buchanan.
Across the three consultations, stakeholders have proposed substantive recommendations to strengthen the NEC’s communication systems, including expanding engagement with community media, establishing a core election coverage network, improving communication between NEC headquarters and county offices, strengthening civic and voter education, and ensuring communication products are accessible and inclusive.
The consultations are expected to culminate in the finalization of the NEC Communications Strategy, Policy and Protocol, followed by the development of an implementation plan to guide its operationalization. The Liberia Electoral Support Project supports national institutions and processes that promote inclusive, transparent, and accountable governance.
The project is managed by UNDP and implemented in partnership with UN Women, the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy, and the NEC, with support from the European Union, Ireland, and Sweden.