H.E Joseph Nyuma Boakai, President of the Republic of Liberia

Hon Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Foreign Minister, Republic of Liberia

Hon. Nathaniel T. Kwabo, Director-General of the Cabinet

Samuel Stevequoah, Minister of States without Portfolio for Special services

Hon. F. Sakila Nyumalin, Minister of Internal Affairs

Hon. Prof. Alaric Tokpa, Acting Chairperson of the Governance Commission

Other Heads of Ministries, Agencies, and Commissions

Representatives from the Swedish Embassy

Representatives from Ireland Embassy

Other Development Partners Present

Distinguished Ladies & Gentlemen

Your Excellency, President Joseph N. Boakai, Honorable Ministers, Heads of Agencies, and Commissions, and Development Partners, we gather here today for the launch of the Performance Management and Compliance System, a transformative initiative that reflects our unwavering commitment to excellence, accountability, and transparency in governance. This is a significant milestone in Liberia’s journey toward effective governance and sustainable development.

Given Liberia’s nascent developmental landscape, the need for a robust performance management and compliance framework has never been more critical. This system is not simply a tool; it is expected to be our new culture in our pursuit of effective governance and sustainable development. By aligning our objectives with measurable outcomes, we are taking a significant step toward fostering a culture of accountability and enhancing the delivery of public services.

Your Excellency, the rollout and implementation of the Performance Management and Compliance System is a cardinal pillar of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development which envisions to strengthen accountability and instill a performance culture in public service. It entails enhancing its functional capabilities while also ensuring that it is deeply embedded within the everyday operational frameworks of Ministries, Agencies, and Commissions. Achieving this will require innovative solutions, continuous stakeholders’ engagement, and a commitment to adaptability and continuous improvement, ensuring that the PMCS evolves in line with dynamic governance needs and contributes effectively to Liberia's development objectives.

The Drivers of Sustainable and Inclusive Development Study, which identifies catalytic solutions and SDGs transformation interventions describing major change in societal structures (economic, political, social, and technological) to achieve sustainable and inclusive development, notes that there is notable strength in the state of governance yet, significant weaknesses persist. Liberia also finds itself at a crossroads given the current level of opportunities and the chronic nature of some of the factors of fragility such as corruption and weak institutions.  The main threats that persist include inefficiency, ongoing corruption, and limited capacity in the public sector. High levels of poverty, unemployment, and inequality pose substantial risks, potentially fueling discontent destabilizing the fragile gains made in governance and peace and increasing the post-transition polarization that has ramifications for social cohesion.   There are however opportunities that arise with the new administration offering a fresh mandate and potential for leveraging development support. The growing public demand for transparency creates momentum for reform. In this context, imbibing a culture of transparency and accountability at the highest level of government and embracing digital solutions can enhance service delivery and governance transparency, making processes more efficient and accessible.    To strengthen governance and peace consolidation, there is a need for continuing investment in the following drivers and opportunities:

• Ensure the stability of democratic institutions

• Strengthen the rule of law

• Promote Political participation

• Ensure Limited violence and relative social cohesion 

• Accelerate progress toward gender-responsive governance

• Promote greater inclusion, citizen participation, and social accountability and leave no one behind.

This is why we see the launch of this new PMCS as a new game-changing initiative, that is laudable.  Your Excellency Mr. President, with recent commitment toward SDGs acceleration and alignment made at the UN Summit of the Future and development of the AAID in which transparency and accountability are aspirations to be met, we believe this PMCS play a pivotal role in meeting your goals of effective service delivery.

Given its vision of enhancing accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness across all levels of government, the UNDP through the Liberia Decentralization Support Programme (LSDP) provided support for the recruitment of a consultant to provide expert technical assistance to the Cabinet Secretariat in enhancing the implementation and institutionalization of the Performance Management and Compliance System (PMCS) across all Ministries, Agencies, and Commissions (MACs) within the government of Liberia. the consultant will provide technical expert support and develop a roadmap for implementation of the PMCS, enhance stakeholders' engagement and buy-in, lead capacity building and training interventions, develop performance targets for MACs, conduct annual performance reviews, develop monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, and provide technical expert support to the Cabinet Secretariat. 

As further support to the Performance Management and Compliance System, the UNDP will be providing support to fully digitize the Performance Management and Compliance system by developing a robust web and mobile application for real-time performance tracking.  

Your Excellency, the Performance Management & Compliance System complements the Citizen Feedback Mechanism (CFM) which was established in 2020 to provide a platform for citizens to share their experiences and provide feedback on the various services that they are or are not receiving. The system is designed to receive feedback     in real- time to engender responses from government entities in a timely manner. The CFM database is a robust repository of key data on service delivery, necessary for improving and informing policy on public services, in line with the goals of National Development Plans.

Lessons learned from the sub-region shows that other African Countries have made immense progress with their Performance Management and Compliance Systems due to strong political will, clear objectives and indicators, decentralization and local engagement, capacity building, incorporation of technology, public participation, and continuous monitoring and evaluation. For example, Rwanda and Kenya have made notable advancement in implementing Performance Management and Compliance Systems (PMS) in government by demonstrated unwavering commitment to performance management, making it a central aspect of its governance framework, and embracing technology, through the utilization of digital platforms for data collection and reporting. This enhances transparency, accuracy, and accessibility of performance information.

I would like to thank our donors, including the Embassies of Sweden and Ireland for their financial contribution to the decentralization process over the years. Your generous contributions have played a critical role in enhancing good governance, improving service delivery and civic engagement, and fostering sustainable development. Together, we have made significant strides in ensuring that resources and decision-making processes are more accessible to those who need them the most.

I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the tireless efforts of the Director General of the Cabinet, Hon. Nathaniel Kwarbo and our LDSP project staff for working behind the scenes to bring this system to fruition.  Your dedication and commitment have been instrumental in bringing us to this pivotal moment. As we implement this system, let us remain focused on our shared vision: to create a government that works for all its citizens, one that is responsive, accountable, and equipped to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.

As we move forward, I encourage all stakeholders to adopt this system wholeheartedly. Let us leverage the insights it provides to drive innovation, improve performance, and ensure compliance at every level. Together, we can build a brighter future, grounded in the principles of good governance and effective public service. This holistic approach will not only enhance operational efficiency of National Government but also bolster public trust as we demonstrate our commitment to integrity and results.

Thank you.