LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
Good Governance
Goal: Establish Liberia as a regional leader in governance by embedding transparency, accountability, and rule of law as the bedrock of public administration, thereby enhancing trust and efficiency in government operations.
Action Plan:
- Strengthening Legal Frameworks: Empower anti-corruption committees and agencies by strengthening their independence and prosecutorial powers, and enforce strict compliance across all government agencies.
- Enhancing Legislative Oversight: Regularize audits and evaluations of government ministries and agencies, leveraging findings to push for reforms that ensure resources are used effectively and corruption is minimized.
- Civic Engagement and Education: Launch a nationwide campaign to educate citizens on their rights and the importance of transparency in government, fostering a culture of accountability from the grassroots level.
A New Legislature
Goal: Modernize and empower the Legislature to act as an effective, responsive, and transparent body that represents the interests of all Liberians, ensuring that laws passed are in tune with the country's development needs.
Action Plan:
- Digital Transformation: Implement a digital legislative management system that facilitates e-voting, online public consultations, and real-time tracking of bills, improving legislative efficiency and public accessibility.
- Capacity Enhancement: Organize continuous professional development for legislators and staff, focusing on policy analysis, legislative drafting, and effective constituent engagement to improve the quality of lawmaking.
- Constituent Engagement: Establish constituency offices with dedicated staff and digital tools to ensure continuous and meaningful interaction between lawmakers and the people they represent, enhancing accountability and responsiveness.
Grow (& Feed) Liberia
Achieve self-sufficiency in food production, ensuring that all Liberians have access to nutritious food while reducing the country's reliance on food imports, thereby strengthening national food security.
Action Plan:
- Agricultural Modernization: Support the introduction of advanced farming technologies and practices, such as precision agriculture and agroforestry, to increase productivity and sustainability.
- Support for Smallholder Farmers: Provide targeted subsidies, affordable credit, and technical assistance to smallholder farmers, particularly in rural areas, to scale up production and reduce post-harvest losses.
- Market Development: Facilitate the development of agricultural value chains, including processing and distribution networks, to ensure that farmers can access local and international markets more effectively.
ReThink Health Care
Goal: Transform Liberia’s healthcare system into a resilient, equitable, and accessible network that provides high-quality care to all citizens, with a special focus on preventive care and addressing health disparities.
Action Plan:
- Universal Health Coverage: Develop and implement a national health insurance scheme that ensures all Liberians, regardless of income, have access to essential healthcare services, with an emphasis on primary and preventive care.
- Infrastructure and Workforce Development: Invest in the construction and rehabilitation of health facilities, particularly in underserved regions, and launch comprehensive training programs to build a robust healthcare workforce.
- Public-Private Partnerships: Encourage partnerships with the private sector and international donors to enhance healthcare delivery, including the introduction of telemedicine services and mobile clinics to reach remote areas.
S. T. E. M. Education
Goal: Establish Liberia as a hub for innovation and technology by embedding STEM education across all levels of the educational system, preparing the next generation for the challenges and opportunities of a globalized economy.
Action Plan:
- Curriculum Integration: Overhaul the national curriculum to prioritize STEM subjects from primary through tertiary education, ensuring that students are equipped with critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Teacher Training and Resources: Invest in the training of STEM educators and provide schools with the necessary tools and resources, including laboratories and digital platforms, to deliver high-quality STEM education.
- Industry Partnerships: Collaborate with technology firms, both domestic and international, to provide internships, mentorships, and real-world learning opportunities for students, bridging the gap between education and industry needs.
Citizen Focused Development
Goal: Direct Liberia’s development efforts towards projects that directly impact citizens’ quality of life, ensuring that all development initiatives are inclusive, equitable, and aligned with the aspirations of local communities.
Action Plan:
- Participatory Planning: Implement a participatory approach to development planning, where citizens (especially WOMEN, CHILDREN and the ELDERLY) are actively involved in identifying priorities and monitoring the progress of development projects in their communities.
- Infrastructure for All: Prioritize infrastructure projects that meet the immediate needs of citizens, such as clean water, electricity, and sanitation, particularly in marginalized and rural areas, ensuring that development is balanced across the country.
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Align all development initiatives with the SDGs, ensuring that projects contribute to long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability, benefiting current and future generations.
Retirement
Goal: Ensure that all Liberian citizens, particularly those who have served the nation in various capacities (military, doctors and nurses, teachers and civil servants), enjoy a dignified retirement with financial security and access to necessary services.
Action Plan:
- Pension System Reform: Overhaul the national pension system to ensure it is financially sustainable and capable of providing adequate benefits, with a special focus on extending coverage to informal sector workers.
- Healthcare for Retirees: Integrate a healthcare component into the pension system, ensuring that retirees have access to affordable and quality healthcare services, reducing their out-of-pocket expenses.
- Senior Citizens’ Support Services: Establish community centers and programs that provide social, recreational, and support services for retirees, promoting their well-being and keeping them engaged in community life.
Diaspora Inclusion
Goal: Leverage the skills, resources, and networks of the Liberian diaspora to contribute meaningfully to national development, ensuring that they remain connected and involved in Liberia’s progress.
Action Plan:
- Dual Citizenship Legislation: Advocate for the passage of a dual citizenship law that allows Liberians in the diaspora to maintain their citizenship and rights while living abroad, facilitating their involvement in national affairs.
- Diaspora Investment Fund: Create a dedicated investment fund to attract and channel diaspora investments into key sectors of the economy, such as real estate, agriculture, and technology, offering incentives and security for investors.
- Engagement and Representation: Establish formal mechanisms for regular consultation and collaboration between the government and diaspora communities, including a Diaspora Council that advises on policy and development issues.