Published: October 27, 2025
MONROVIA – Liberia has taken a transformative step toward improving transparency and accountability in its natural resource sector with the launch of a Standardized Scoring Framework for Reviewing Concession and Mineral Development Agreements (MDAs).
The tool, developed by Integrity Watch Liberia (IWL) with funding from the Government of Ireland through Irish Aid, provides lawmakers with a clear, evidence-based system for evaluating concession agreements. It aims to ensure that decisions about the country’s vast natural wealth are transparent, equitable, and beneficial to all Liberians.
The official launch, held at the Cape Hotel in Mamba Point, Monrovia, brought together lawmakers from the Senate and House Committees on Concessions and Investment, Ways, Means and Finance, Judiciary, and the African Parliamentary Network on Illicit Financial Flows and Taxation (APNIFFT) Liberia Caucus, as well as representatives of civil society, development partners, and technical experts from Tax Justice Network Africa (TJNA).
Reforming Liberia’s Concession System For years, Liberia’s concession processes have faced public criticism over limited transparency, weak negotiation capacity, and inconsistencies in contract reviews. The new framework seeks to change that by introducing a structured scoring system that allows lawmakers to objectively evaluate agreements across multiple dimensions, legal compliance, fiscal terms, environmental protection, local content, and human rights.
By assigning measurable scores to each category, the framework enables legislators to determine whether a contract should be approved, renegotiated, or rejected. It also integrates financial modeling, Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs), and climate safeguards, aligning Liberia’s review standards with international benchmarks like the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and the Africa Mining Vision (AMV).
“The framework empowers our lawmakers to ensure that Liberia’s natural wealth is managed transparently and equitably,” said Harold Aidoo, Executive Director of Integrity Watch Liberia. “It is a practical accountability tool that strengthens legislative oversight and gives Parliament a stronger hand in protecting the national interest.”
Lawmakers Praise the Initiative The initiative received broad endorsement from legislators and development partners. Senator Francis S. Dopoh of River Gee County, Co-Chair of the APNIFFT Liberia Caucus, called the tool “a sacred duty fulfilled,” emphasizing that it ensures the country’s resources benefit all citizens rather than a select few. Senator Numene T.H. Bartekwa, Chair of the Senate Concessions Committee, described the new framework as “monumental and transformative,” noting that it replaces subjective opinions with evidence-based decision-making.
From the House of Representatives, Rep. P. Mike Jurry highlighted its environmental value: “If we fail to protect our environment now, future generations will pay the price. This framework ensures that we consider long-term impacts in every concession decision.” International Endorsement and Future Steps Gerald Considine, Ireland’s Ambassador to Liberia, hailed the development as “a pivotal moment in Liberia’s governance journey,” reaffirming Ireland’s support for reforms that promote transparency and inclusive growth.
“This tool is a catalyst for institutional transformation and a genuine engine for economic growth and public trust,” he said. Lawmakers attending the session recommended that the scoring framework be institutionalized within the Legislature and immediately applied to ongoing concession reviews, including the HPX agreement and a pending Production Sharing Contract. They also requested that IWL facilitate a technical working session to help committees use the framework effectively.
In addition, legislators proposed the creation of a technical secretariat within the Committee on Concessions and Investment to manage data, provide analytical support, and ensure consistent application of the scoring system. Toward a Transparent and Accountable Future The introduction of the Standardized Scoring Framework marks a turning point in Liberia’s quest to make natural resource management more transparent and citizen-centered. By providing the Legislature with a quantifiable decision-making tool, it bridges the gap between policy ambition and real-world implementation.
“This initiative sets a new benchmark for how concession decisions will be made in Liberia,” Aidoo said. “It’s about fairness, integrity, and ensuring that Liberia’s natural wealth benefits its people—not just today, but for generations to come.”
With continued support from Ireland and Liberia’s growing commitment to reform, the framework is poised to play a central role in building a transparent, accountable, and equitable system of resource governance—transforming Liberia’s natural wealth into a true engine for inclusive and sustainable development.
IWL is a leading civil society organization dedicated to promoting fiscal transparency, accountability, and good governance across Liberia’s public and natural resource sectors. The group works closely with government institutions, civil society, and development partners to strengthen oversight, empower citizens, and build institutional capacity for responsible governance.
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