By Amos Harris
The Naymote Partners for Democratic Development has officially unveiled its 2025 Policy Brief on Governance and Anti-Corruption in Liberia, offering a detailed evaluation of the government’s initial efforts to implement Pillar Four of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.
The newly launched brief outlines both notable progress and persistent governance challenges, concluding that while early reforms are underway, more decisive action is required for Liberia to achieve its 2029 national development goals.
According to the report, key advancements include the ongoing biometric ID enrollment process, the introduction of pilot e-procurement systems, and steady legislative progress toward decentralization. However, the study also highlights major service delivery and institutional capacity gaps that continue to hinder efficiency and accountability across the public sector.
Data presented in the policy brief paints a concerning picture of service delivery: 60.7 percent of core services at County Service Centers remain non-operational, and 85.7 percent of existing services still rely on manual processing systems.
The document further cautions that institutions mandated to combat corruption remain severely underfunded and lack enforcement capacity, a situation that could stall ongoing reform efforts.
Speaking during the launch, Eddy Jarwolo, Executive Director of Naymote, emphasized the urgency of government commitment to ensure that ongoing reforms yield tangible benefits for the Liberian people.
“Liberia’s future depends on accountable institutions and a government that delivers for its citizens,” Jarwolo said. “Reforms have started, but they risk becoming symbolic unless immediate steps are taken to decentralize services, digitize governance, and integrate citizen feedback into national decision-making.”
Jarwolo described the 2025 Policy Brief as more than a publication—it is a call to action for policymakers, civil society actors, and ordinary Liberians striving for transparency, equity, and accountability in national governance.
Among its major recommendations, the brief urges the government to:
- Decentralize biometric ID printing.
- Implement a nationwide rollout of e-procurement.
- Enhance anti-corruption enforcement.
- Fully implement the Revenue Sharing Regulations.
- Integrate citizen satisfaction indicators into national monitoring and evaluation systems.
Naymote cautioned that Liberia risks falling short of its governance transformation goals unless state institutions embrace integrated digital systems, empower local governance structures, and uphold financial transparency at every level.
“The real test of governance lies not in policy statements, but in the lived experiences of citizens,” Jarwolo stressed. “This brief is designed to keep the focus where it truly belongs—on the people.”
The 2025 Policy Brief serves as both an early-warning mechanism and a strategic guide, calling on the Liberian government to accelerate governance and anti-corruption reforms, sustain public trust, and deliver on the promise of inclusive national development.
Comments are closed.