NEC Liberia Empowers Assistant Magistrates with Digital Skills & Strategic Planning in Buchanan

BUCHANAN, Grand Bassa County – The National Elections Commission of Liberia (NEC-Liberia) has launched a comprehensive two-day capacity-building and refresher training workshop for Assistant Elections Magistrates, who also serve as Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) focal persons.

The event is taking place in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County.
Organized by the NEC’s M&E Section in collaboration with UNDP Liberia-LESP which is supported by the EU, Sweden, Ireland, the training builds on similar successful sessions held in 2024 and 2025, during which digital reporting platforms were first introduced.

Speaking on Monday, 13 April 2026, on behalf of Acting Chairperson Mr. Jonathan K. Weedor, the Deputy Executive Director for Administration, Mr. Samuel B. Cole, underscored the critical need to enhance the capacities of Assistant Magistrates.

He explained that strengthening their skills will enable them to effectively monitor and provide accurate data on the implementation of the Commission’s 2026-2030 Strategic Plan, which marks a shift toward results-based management.

The first day of the workshop focused on broadening participants’ knowledge of core M&E principles, deepening their proficiency in digital data collection tools, and familiarizing them with key components and indicators of the new Strategic Plan (including those outlined in the 2026 Annual Work Plan (AWP).

On day two, the training shifted to intensive, hands-on practical sessions.

Assistant Magistrates were presented with various real-world scenarios based directly on activities from the AWP.

Participants were required to report on these scenarios using digital tools, an exercise designed to inform them of planned activities, deepen their understanding of AWP indicators, and strengthen overall reporting quality.

By the end of the workshop, focal persons are expected to efficiently track progress in the implementation of strategic objectives, ensuring that Liberia’s electoral processes become more data-driven, transparent, and accountable.

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