The National Elections Commission (NEC), in collaboration with the UNDP Liberia Electoral Support Project (LESP), convened a technical briefing on electoral boundary delimitation, bringing together development partners and United Nations agencies to review the status, challenges, and requirements of Liberia’s boundary delimitation process.

Participants included representatives from the European Union, the Embassies of Ireland and Sweden, ECOWAS, implementing partners of the LESP, UN Women, the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD), and other UN agencies, including IOM and UNICEF. The LESP is supported by the European Union, Irish Aid, and Sweden.

The briefing aimed to provide partners with a clear technical understanding of the boundary delimitation process—its legal foundations, operational demands, and current constraints—while fostering open dialogue in an informal setting.

A detailed presentation by Mr. Archie Delaney, Spatial and Data Management Consultant (NEC-UNDP), outlined the constitutional and legal framework guiding boundary delimitation, the historical development of Liberia’s electoral districts, and the technical methodology required to redraw constituencies using population data. He noted that the current districts, last delineated for the 2011 general elections, were based on voter registration data rather than census figures, resulting in significant malapportionment and unequal representation.

The briefing underscored that boundary delimitation is fundamental to ensuring fair and equitable representation, yet remains one of the most complex phases of the electoral cycle due to its technical, political, legal, and socio-economic dimensions. Timeliness is now critical, as the process represents the first phase of the electoral cycle and directly influences subsequent stages.

NEC informed partners that, to complete the process ahead of the 2029 general elections, boundary delimitation must be finalized by the end of 2026. Achieving this will require the Legislature to prescribe a population threshold and ensure adequate financial resources. Currently, the absence of dedicated funding poses a significant constraint.

The meeting also highlighted ongoing technical progress. A September 2024 Memorandum of Understanding between NEC and the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) has facilitated joint efforts to prepare and quality-control population datasets for electoral use. With available funds in 2025, NEC—working alongside LISGIS and the Liberia Land Authority—conducted field mapping exercises in selected counties to address administrative boundary challenges.

Development partners reaffirmed their strong interest in supporting Liberia’s electoral and democratic development, emphasizing the importance of coordination, transparency, and inclusive stakeholder engagement. Discussions pointed to the need for a high-level, multi-agency steering committee, supported by a technical working group, to guide and oversee the boundary delimitation process.

Through the Liberia Electoral Support Project, UNDP continues to provide technical assistance to the NEC. Support has included the deployment of a national Spatial and Data Management Consultant, strengthened inter-agency coordination, and orientation workshops for NEC leadership and civil society organizations. These efforts have reinforced the importance of clear institutional roles, community participation, and transparent communication to build public trust.

The briefing concluded with optimism that 2026 can serve as a decisive year for advancing electoral boundary delimitation in Liberia—strengthening democratic governance, promoting equal representation, and enhancing the credibility of future elections.

The Liberia Electoral Support Project supports national institutions and processes to 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 National Elections Commission, with support from the European Union, Ireland, and Sweden.