Twenty-six middle-level employees of the National Elections Commission (NEC) on Thursday, 16 July 2026 successfully completed the third phase of the Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections (BRIDGE) Building Institutional Excellence in Elections Workshop, reinforcing the Commission’s commitment to building a professional, accountable, and high-performing electoral institution capable of delivering credible elections.

The workshop, implemented by NEC in partnership with UNDP under the Liberia Electoral Support Project, from 14 - 16 July 2026 in Margibi County, brought together Election Magistrates and other middle-level staff to strengthen leadership, institutional effectiveness, and organizational performance through the world’s leading professional development programmes for electoral management bodies. 

The workshop forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the institutional capacity of Liberia’s National Elections Commission ahead of future electoral processes in building a stronger electoral institution.

The project is managed by UNDP and implemented in partnership with UN Women and the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy, in collaboration with NEC and with support from the European Union, Ireland, and Sweden.

The BRIDGE Building Institutional Excellence in Elections module equips electoral professionals with practical tools to foster effective leadership, strengthen governance systems, improve organizational culture, and promote continuous learning and accountability, key ingredients for building resilient public institutions.

Through the training, participants explored the core pillars of institutional excellence, including ethical leadership, strategic planning, communication, human resource development, knowledge management, teamwork, accountability, transparency, inclusiveness, responsiveness, efficiency, and effective decision-making. 

Through practical exercises, case studies, and peer learning, participants reflected on how these principles can be applied to improve service delivery across the Commission.

Addressing participants during the workshop, NEC Executive Director Anthony K. Sengbe, encouraged the employees to translate the knowledge gained into concrete actions that strengthen the institution.

“Institutional excellence begins with each of us,” Sengbe said. “The knowledge and skills you acquire here should not remain in the classroom. They must be reflected in how we lead, collaborate, communicate, and serve the Liberian people. Together, we can build a stronger, more responsive and results-oriented Commission capable of effectively fulfilling its constitutional mandate.

Participants examined how effective communication, ethical conduct, and shared organizational values contribute to greater public confidence in the Commission and improve its ability to deliver electoral services efficiently and transparently.

The workshop drew good international practices from different countries, while contextualizing these to address the operational realities and institutional priorities of the NEC.

The NEC facilitators guided participants through interactive discussions and practical scenarios that encouraged peer learning, critical reflection, and collaborative problem-solving, enabling staff to identify opportunities to strengthen coordination and institutional performance across headquarters and county offices.

At the close of the workshop, 26 participants received certificates recognizing their successful completion of the workshop and joining a growing cadre of NEC professionals equipped to champion organizational excellence and institutional transformation within the Commission.

The training represents the third phase of NEC’s institutional excellence programme and reflects the Commission’s continued investment in its people as the foundation for stronger electoral governance.

The Liberia Electoral Support Project supports national institutions and processes to promote inclusive, transparent, and accountable governance in Liberia.