On July 23, national and international stakeholders convened under the High-Level Coordination Platform on Elections to assess progress toward the upcoming Representative By-election in Nimba County District #5.

The meeting was chaired by Cllr. Cora Hare-Konuwa, Deputy Minister of Justice for Codification, with co-chairs Christine Umutoni, UN Resident Coordinator, and Josephine Nkrumah, ECOWAS Ambassador.

National Elections Commission (NEC) Chairperson Davidetta Browne Lansanah and the Board of Commissioners briefed attendees on the current level of preparedness, including operational challenges. Chairperson Lansanah confirmed that the Government of Liberia has released the full approved budget of US$235,994 for the by-election.

UN Resident Coordinator Umutoni emphasized that, while the by-election is limited in scope, it represents an opportunity to reinforce public confidence in democratic processes. She encouraged outreach in local languages and to remote communities, stressing the importance of clear communication and coordination with peacebuilding partners.

Echoing these priorities, ECOWAS Ambassador Nkrumah supported expanded civic education initiatives, recommending engagement through local motorcyclist networks to boost voter awareness.

The High-Level Platform remains a critical mechanism for joint action and inclusive support throughout Liberia’s electoral cycle. It is convened by the Joint Secretariat—comprising the Ministry of Justice, NEC, and the UNDP Liberia Electoral Support Project (LESP)—with support from the European Union, Irish Aid, and Sweden.

LESP is implemented in partnership with UN Women and the Netherlands Institute for Multi-Party Democracy (NIMD) to strengthen democratic institutions and promote inclusive, accountable governance across the country.