Partnership Commitments and Action Plan 2015 – 2017, Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy & Strategy and the Education Policy to improve schooling after Ebola with the aim of ensuring a more proactive and efficient governance structure. However, while the Electricity Law has been provisionally endorsed by the Cabinet; Education Minister, George Werner was mandated to hold consultations and build coalition around the Policy.

According to an Executive Mansion release, the Draft Domestic Violence legislation criminalizes domestic violence; inclusive against men and children. The draft Act implements Liberia’s commitment under theDeclaration on the elimination of Violence against Women, 1993, Article 3 (d) that it will prevent and in accordance with national legislation, punish acts of violence against women, and develop penal sanctions.

Liberia’s Open Government Partnership Commitments and Action Plan 2015 – 2017 – focuses on four thematic areas bordering on transparency, citizen participation, accountability and integrity and technology and innovation. 

The Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy and Strategy – encapsulates a long-term policy vision for the fisheries sector and use of its resources, including public sector institutional arrangement needed to implement the policy and national Monitoring, Controlling and Surveillance (MCS) strategy to support policy implementation. It provides the much needed policy framework, looking into the future for modern, vibrant and sustainably managed fisheries sector that generates prosperity for the present and future generations.

Despite its endorsement of the Education Policy to improve schooling after Ebola, the Minister of Educationhas been mandated to engage in multi-sectoral consultations with the relevant stakeholders in the overall interest of the policy. 

Although provisionally endorsed pending unanimous consensus-building, the Electricity Law shall establish the legal and regulatory framework for the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity within the territory of The Republic of Liberia and the import and export of the same. It purposes are to facilitate the implementation of the National Energy Policy whose goals. It is also intended to expand on sustainable basis, assure availability of supply and quality, increase availability promote the development of renewable energy resources, encourage efficient use of electricity resources, promote regional and international cooperation in electricity trade and investment, maintain a financially viable and sustainable electricity industry, establish and maintain transparency, accountability, and sound principles of governance, provide the necessary capacity building process for electricity sustainability and security.

Meanwhile, the Director General of the Cabinet formally presented to Cabinet Ministers the approved versions of the Cabinet Guide for Ministries, Agencies, and Commissions and Cabinet Members’ Handbook. The Cabinet Guide provides information and advice about Cabinet processes and procedures to be followed by MACs and Cabinet Secretariat requirements for documents being produced for Cabinet by MACs. The Cabinet Members’ Handbook on the other hand helps Cabinet Members prepare for their role in the Executive Branch of Liberia by providing a wide-range of information to help Cabinet Members participate effectively in the government, including advice on accountability and protocol requirements, and pays particular attention to the role and operational processes of the Cabinet.

In a related development, Commerce Minister Axel Addy used the occasion to brief the Cabinet on progress that has been made with the passage into law of the Small Business Empowerment Act by the National Legislature and signed by the President of Liberia. He said the passage of the Law brought into force the Bureau of Small Business Administration (SBA) with the view to assisting, promoting and fostering the interest of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) by ensuring that they receive their fair share of procurement contracts for the provision of goods and services to the Government.

The National Urban Forum, funded by Cities Alliance and UN-Habitat is being hosted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in collaboration with the Monrovia City Corporation and the Land Commission.

The National Urban Forum will, among other things, develop a road map for the formulation of a National Urban Policy, present the Monrovia City Program, build consensus on the city’s recovery and development strategy, endorse Liberia National Habitat Report, and showcase innovative tools in urban settlement profiling and slum upgrading from project experiences in Africa.

Her Excellency, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is expected to speak at the first national forum to craft Liberia’s Urban Policy.

The Under- Secretary General of the United Nations & Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Dr. Joan Clos, and Madam Clare Short, Senior Policy Advisor of Cities Alliance are also expected to grace the forum.

Urban governance in Liberia has not been given much policy and legal priority in the past. As a result, municipal authorities across the country are still largely unable to respond to urbanization challenges effectively or plan for future urban growth due to low capacity and poor resources.

The fragility of Liberia’s cities has recently been exposed by the Ebola outbreak that devastated urban populations, especially the vulnerable populations in Monrovia’s slum communities.

According to statistics, unplanned urbanization has resulted in the proliferation of slums, with an estimated 70% of Monrovia’s population currently living in slum conditions.

The 2008 National Housing and Population Census also estimated that 47% of Liberia’s population of 3.5 million resides in urban areas.