Published: October 31, 2025
Integrity Watch Liberia Executive Director Harold Aidoo presents the 2026 Budget Option Paper to House Speaker Richard Koon at the Capitol Building.
MONROVIA — Integrity Watch Liberia (IWL), one of the country’s leading civil society organizations, has presented its 2026 Budget Option Paper to the 55th Legislature through Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon, urging a more transparent, inclusive, and accountable national budget process.
Speaking during the presentation on Thursday at the Capitol Building in Monrovia, Harold Aidoo, executive director of Integrity Watch Liberia, said the policy document offers an analytical review of Liberia’s macroeconomic and fiscal performance while proposing evidence-based policy alternatives for key sectors, including education, health, agriculture, energy, and governance.
“Developed by Integrity Watch Liberia through the coordination of the Fiscal Transparency Advisory Group (FTAG) and informed by extensive citizen pre-budget consultations across 14 of Liberia’s 15 counties, this paper captures the collective aspirations, concerns, and policy perspectives of Liberians from all walks of life,” Aidoo said.
Aidoo described the 2026 Budget Option Paper as a renewed commitment by civil society to constructively engage in shaping the national budget discourse.
“Liberia’s national budget remains the most powerful instrument for translating policy vision into tangible outcomes for its people,” he said. “It determines not only how public resources are allocated but also how equitably opportunities are shared across generations. Yet, for far too long, the national budget process has been constrained by weak fiscal discipline, limited transparency, and inadequate public participation.”
Building on the foundation laid by the 2025 version, Aidoo said the 2026 edition deepens national discussions on fiscal responsibility, inclusive growth, and transparency.
He emphasized that citizens’ voices must guide fiscal priorities, adding that technology-driven innovations like the TALKAY Accountability Platform can transform how government and citizens interact in real time.
Aidoo stressed that at the core of the document is the belief that public finance must serve the public good.
“A credible, inclusive, and transparent national budget is not merely a technocratic exercise; it is a measure of governance, a reflection of justice and equity, and the cornerstone of Liberia’s social contract,” he said.
He called on the Government of Liberia, the Legislature, development partners, and civil society organizations to treat the paper not merely as an analytical study, but as a policy instrument for reform and a blueprint for accountability.
“The future of Liberia’s fiscal stability and social transformation depends on our collective resolve to ensure that every Liberian dollar is used wisely, efficiently, and transparently,” Aidoo said.
Aidoo also expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) for facilitating pre-budget consultations, and to the Government of Ireland (Irish Aid) for its “unwavering support” in advancing fiscal transparency and citizen participation.
According to IWL, the 2026 CSO Shadow Budget Option Paper provides data-driven alternatives to strengthen budget credibility, equity, and accountability.
The document was produced under the coordination of FTAG, with technical and financial backing from Irish Aid, through the project “Strengthening Inclusive Governance and Accountability in Liberia’s Natural Resources Sector.”
It draws upon nationwide consultations in 14 of Liberia’s 15 counties (excluding Grand Kru), as well as macroeconomic and fiscal data from the MFDP, Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), International Monetary Fund (IMF), and Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI).
“This participatory approach reinforces the Option Paper’s dual role as a policy tool and civic accountability mechanism, ensuring that Liberia’s fiscal decisions are inclusive, data-driven, and responsive to citizens’ needs,” Aidoo added.
In response, Speaker Koon praised civil society organizations for continually raising national issues that reflect citizens’ priorities.
“We appreciate CSOs for always highlighting critical matters that border on national concerns,” Koon said. “The Legislature is working in line with many of the issues raised by citizens regarding the key sectors of the national budget.”
He said the House of Representatives’ Budget Committee would review the paper and revert to IWL with updates, noting that the Public Accounts Committee is already addressing tracking reports highlighted in the document.
“I can assure you that we will adhere to the citizens’ concerns,” Koon said. “As the people’s deputies, once they request us to act in their favor, we will automatically execute that. Thank you for coming, and I can assure you these documents will be prioritized.”
The presentation of the 2026 Budget Option Paper marks another milestone in efforts to enhance citizen participation and fiscal accountability in Liberia.
With the Legislature’s acknowledgment and civil society’s persistence, observers say the proposal could influence how public funds are allocated and managed in the years ahead—anchoring Liberia’s budget process in the principles of equity, transparency, and inclusivity.
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