Monrovia – Next year would be very critical for Liberians as they prepare for election which would see smooth transition of power for the first time in decades.
Governance Commission Chairman Amos Sawyer described the transition as “triple transitions”, taking into consideration political, security and economic transitions.
The Governance Commission says it would need US$5 million to support the “triple transitions” programs.
Dr. Sawyer it is very important to ensure adequate preparation for smooth transitioning in all three sectors in 2017.
“With the drawdown of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), Liberia now assumes responsibility for its own security, and secondly, the five-year Agenda for Transformation (AfT) is ending next year, thereby arising the need for a successor development agenda, which will be called AFT2,” Sawyer said.
The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), African Development Bank (AfDB), European Union, World Bank, amongst others were present at the Open-House event on Thursday.
It was held under the theme: “Successful Elections, Smooth Transition, and Sustaining Reforms.”
In a PowerPoint presentation, GC Executive Director, Steve Manley said the Commission, conscious of its mandate, unique roles and responsibilities in contributing to steering post-conflict Liberia towards stronger democratic stability and peace, must also pilot the reform process skillfully and safely through the unfolding headwinds of the triple transitions.
He highlighted the GC accomplishments of the past; ongoing institutional reforms; setting the pace for a secured future through democratic and participatory governance; and safeguarding the gains made thus far, along with those still in the pipeline as Liberia prepares for a historic elections and subsequent transition.
The GC was established by an Act of Legislature in 2007, and works through the National Integrity System- (NIS), Public Sector Reform- (PSR), Political Legal Reforms/Decentralization- (PLR), Civic Engagement, National Identity and Visioning- (CENV) and Monitoring and Evaluation Research and Publication- (MERP).
During the period 2012-2015, the GC made significant contributions in policy formulation and implementation of public serVice reform, decentralization, the Code of Conduct, the development of a National Vision, the National Reconciliation and Healing Roadmap, and expanded its role as a repository of governance reform resources.
But the GC says there are needs for these to continue to ensure that Liberia is put on the right trajectory for good governance as well as ensure good results for the triple transitions.
In this regard, the GC has formulated a new five-year roadmap.
This new five-year Strategic Plan (SP) (2016-2021), which according to Director Manley, focuses on result-based programming aimed at successfully delivering outcomes through effective collaboration across its five mandate areas, other MACs, cooperating CSOs and international partners; and maximization of resources (financial, technical and human).
In the first two years, the GC will place immediate priorities consolidating the gains of current reform initiatives, enhancing security through community policing, reinforcing reconciliation, and carefully preparing for and successfully holding the 2017 Elections and ensuring a near-seamless transition, Manley noted.
“This two-year results-based program started in January 2016 and is being implemented through a coordinated Joint Work Programme (JWP) among Mandate Areas and other partners,” he said.
“The GC proposes to focus its programming on the prioritization of strategic actions, resources and partnerships in completing constitution reforms, protecting and completing public serVice reform, and strengthening decentralization implementation,” Manley said.
The commission also intends to ensure effective asset management during the transition, developing conflict management arrangements in natural resource governance, establishment of a gender desk within the Commission, strengthening reconciliation, as well as building confidence among political actors and supporting the electoral process and the transition, among others.
To ensure that these are successful, the Commission would need US$ 4.99 million. Manley said, US$3.19 million (64 percent) of this would go directly to Programme Related Activities.
The GC hopes to generate this from donors while the government will provide the balance US$ 1.71 (36 percent).