This five-year Legislative Modernization Plan (LMP) of Liberia is a document that has evolved out of more than a year of consultations and deliberations at workshops,retreats and in the chambers and plenary of the Legislature. It speaks to a new spirit of participatory democracy in Liberia that recognizes the importance of putting the Liberian citizen first. This Plan is owned by the Legislature; but it is a Plan for citizens of legislative constituencies throughout Liberia. It embodies, for the first time in the history of the country, the Vision Statement and Mission Declaration of the Liberian Legislature and outlines programs and activities that demonstrate commitment of the 52nd Legislature to effectively execute its constitutional duties and responsibilities.

The Plan is a document in progress. Not all the issues, concerns, interests and programs could be captured in this document, but it is the first. There will be periodic reviews. The JLMC will undoubtedly ensure that revisions include important elements of legislative development strategies that may not have been incorporated in this document.

We urge all the partners to remain engaged with us as we now embark upon implementation. The leadership and members of the 52nd Legislature acknowledge the contributions and support from various individuals and organizations.

Firstly, our appreciation goes to our colleagues on the Joint Legislative Modernization Committee (JLMC). We congratulate them for their diligence in formulating this Plan. We remain immensely grateful to Dr. John Johnson and Dr. Robert Nakamura of the Center for Legislative Development (CLD) at the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the University at Albany, New York who, upon our request, were recruited in February 2006 by the UNDP, to help us assess the needs of the post-war Legislature of Liberia. Their evaluation of our situation has laid the foundation for this Plan.
Professional consultancy provided by Honorable Morris Dukuly, Former Speaker of the House of Representatives (50th Legislature of Liberia), was vital to the drafting and formulation of the Plan. We equally acknowledge the involvement of Hon. Dan Wandera Ogalo, a Member of Parliament of the East African Legislative Assembly, who was contracted by United Nations Development Program/Liberia (UNDP) to collaborate with Speaker Dukuly in articulating the shared vision of the 52nd Legislature.

We are grateful to the International Donor Coordination Committee whose members include the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), UNDP, Chair of the Committee; the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the European Union (EU); the African Capacity-Building Foundation (ACBF); and the World Bank. We are also thankful to all specialists from the implementing partners of the donor community,particularly the National Democratic Institute (NDI); the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China; the Konrad Adenaeur Foundation (KAF); ECOWAS; and the African Union (AU); UNMIL; and UNDP. We are convinced that without the material, financial and technical assistance of these partners, our JLMC efforts would not have reached this far.

Alex Tyler

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Cletus Wotorson

President Pro-Tempore of the Senate