For any election management body, public confidence depends not only on credible elections but also on timely, accurate, and transparent communication. In today’s digital age, citizens increasingly expect real-time information through platforms, including radio, newspapers, television, websites, and social media. Recognizing this shift, the Liberia Electoral Support Project (LESP) has been supporting the National Elections Commission (NEC) to transform the way it communicates with the public.

That transformation reached another important milestone when UNDP, through the LESP and with support from the European Union, Ireland, and Sweden, handed over a package of professional multimedia and digital communications equipment to the NEC. The handover builds on an investment that began months earlier, not with equipment, but with people.

The equipment, including professional mirrorless cameras, a broadcast camcorder, wireless microphones, audio recorders, studio lighting, tripods, stabilizing equipment, external hard drives, studio monitors, and licensed digital content management software, will significantly enhance the Commission’s ability to produce high-quality digital content for voter education, public information, media engagement, and institutional visibility.

Recognizing that modern election management requires strong digital communication, the LESP partnered with BlueCrest University to train 10 NEC staff from the Communications Department on Live Broadcast and Data Center in digital communications, content development, graphic design, videography, social media management, and the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Since completing the training, NEC’s communications products have noticeably improved, become more timely and citizen-centered. The Commission’s Facebook page now features more engaging graphics, stronger visual storytelling, and quicker updates on electoral activities. The Communications Team has also begun applying AI tools learned during the training to improve content development, editing, and digital engagement.

Together, enhanced staff capacity and modern communications equipment are helping NEC build a stronger digital presence, improve transparency, and foster greater public trust as Liberia prepares for future elections.

Receiving the equipment on behalf of the NEC Board of Commissioners, Co-Chairperson Counsellor Teplah Reeves welcomed the support and assured partners that the equipment would be used to strengthen communication with the Liberians.

“We assure you that the equipment will be used to provide the Liberians with the electoral information they need and to combat misinformation and disinformation. We will use these materials to the best of our ability. On behalf of the Board of Commissioners, we thank the UNDP and its partners for this generous support,” Reeves noted.

Handing over the equipment, Chief Technical Advisor Katherine Green said the recent improvements in NEC public communication demonstrate why investing in people comes first.

Green said, “We are already seeing the results. NEC’s communication products, Facebook page, and website have become more timely, engaging, and citizen-friendly, demonstrating the value of investing in people before investing in equipment”. She noted that the equipment now provides the tools needed to fully apply those newly acquired skills.

The equipment package was procured following the recommendations from BlueCrest University after the training identified the need for professional multimedia tools to enable staff to apply their new knowledge effectively.

Beyond improving routine communications, the equipment will support the development of NEC’s new institutional website, which is currently under construction. Equipped with new skills in digital content creation and multimedia production, the NEC Communications Team will be able to develop richer, more dynamic, and citizen-friendly content that reflects international standards for transparency and accessibility.

The investment also positions NEC to expand its digital presence beyond its existing platforms. With professional cameras, audio systems, and video production equipment now available, the Commission is expected to broaden its use of multimedia and social media platforms, producing more videos, graphics, livestreams, and voter education content that reach wider and more diverse audiences. 

For UNDP and its partners, the handover represents a broader strategy to build resilient institutions capable of communicating openly, responding quickly, and earning public trust.

As Liberia prepares for future elections and the implementation of NEC’s Strategic Plan 2026-2030, stronger digital communication will play an increasingly important role in promoting transparency, combating misinformation, and encouraging informed citizen participation.

The Liberia Electoral Support Project is managed by UNDP and implemented in partnership with UN Women and the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD), with support from the European Union, Irish Aid, and Sweden, continues to support national institutions in strengthening electoral governance and democratic resilience.