Published: November 27, 2024
Monrovia – The Liberia Elections Observation Network (LEON) has reached a major milestone, transitioning into an independent and self-sufficient civil society organization (CSO) capable of receiving direct donor funding. This achievement comes as The Carter Center prepares to close its Strengthening Citizen Voices to Advance Electoral Reform and Democratic Governance project by the end of 2024.
Speaking at the transition ceremony held on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, in Monrovia, Robert David, Irish Project Lead at The Carter Center, hailed LEON’s progress as a significant step forward for Liberia’s democracy. “The achievement of LEON is a milestone for Liberia, aimed at serving the country’s democracy and governance needs,” he stated.
David highlighted that the Swedish International Development and Cooperation Agency (Sida) had funded The Carter Center’s work in providing LEON with strategic guidance and technical assistance since its founding in 2017. Initially an election observation group, LEON has evolved into a governance monitoring and reporting organization.
“After seven years of concerted effort, LEON represents progress on Sida’s localization initiative. LEON is now ready to join other Liberian CSOs capable of receiving and managing direct donor funding to implement governance monitoring and stakeholder engagement programming,” David said.
He emphasized LEON’s readiness to continue pursuing its vision and values on behalf of Liberians, urging national stakeholders and the international community to support its efforts further. David also thanked Sida for its seven years of support, which enabled LEON to reach a professional level of technical, operational, and financial capacity.
Achievements and Future Strategies
LEON Head of Secretariat, Augustine S. M. Tamba, outlined the organization’s achievements and future strategies leading to the 2029 presidential and legislative elections. He noted that LEON had conducted 11 public perception surveys since 2019, prepared policy and advocacy briefs on constitutional and electoral reform since 2021, and implemented Liberia’s first statistically-based citizen observation (SBO) approach during the 2023 general elections.
Tamba highlighted LEON’s accuracy in projecting electoral outcomes during the 2023 presidential elections, stating, “Every range of percentages projected by LEON for former President George Manneh Weah of the CDC and now President Joseph Nyuma Boakai of the Unity Party aligned with official election statistics provided by the National Elections Commission.”
Sida’s Support and Observations
Kerstin Johnson Cisse, Head of Development at Sida, praised LEON’s progress, particularly its use of the SBO methodology during the 2023 elections—an unprecedented achievement in Liberia. She also highlighted LEON’s policy brief published in June 2024, which called for constituency delimitation ahead of future elections, stressing its importance for electoral reform.
Cisse thanked The Carter Center for its role in supporting LEON’s transition, noting the organization’s strengthened technical, operational, and financial capacities.
Continued Support from International Partners
Representatives from international organizations, including the European Union, the United States Embassy, and the United Nations Development Programme Liberia, reiterated their commitment to supporting LEON. They also encouraged the network’s four member organizations—Liberia Crusaders for Peace, Catholic Justice and Peace Commission, National Union of Organizations for the Disabled, and the Federation of Liberian Youth—to continue their collaboration under LEON’s umbrella.
The National Elections Commission was also represented at the event, symbolizing its endorsement of LEON’s contributions to electoral reform and democratic governance.
The transition ceremony marked a pivotal moment in LEON’s journey toward independence, underscoring its vital role in advancing democracy and governance in Liberia.
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