[{"bbox": [96, 153, 1134, 207], "category": "Section-header", "text": "iii. Increase the participation of citizens in the decision-making process and accountability (through increased legislative oversight)."}, {"bbox": [96, 218, 1134, 378], "category": "Text", "text": "This Action ties in with all areas of the MIP, improving the conditions for a peaceful and unified society as a base for sustainable development. It builds on the previous Support to the 2015-2018 Liberian Electoral Cycle, EU Electoral Observations Missions (2017 and Election Follow up - EFM 2021) recommendations, and it takes into consideration the recent European External Action Service Conflict Analysis Screening (CAS). The Action is also aligned with the relevant EU policies, other programmes and instruments including the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy (2020-2024)² and the external aspects of the 2020 European Democracy Action Plan³."}, {"bbox": [96, 389, 1134, 523], "category": "Text", "text": "The Action will contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with SDG 5 promoting gender equality; with SDG 16 on peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development; providing access to justice for all; building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels; and SDG 17 enhancing global partnership for sustainable development through multi-stakeholder partnership mobilising and sharing knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources to support the achievement of the SDGs."}, {"bbox": [96, 534, 1134, 616], "category": "Text", "text": "The Action will be implemented based on the EU-UNDP partnership on electoral assistance and in full cooperation with EU Member States represented in Liberia, as well as in strong coordination with all other partners contributing to the governance process."}, {"bbox": [217, 681, 457, 714], "category": "Section-header", "text": "2 RATIONALE"}, {"bbox": [85, 747, 235, 775], "category": "Section-header", "text": "2.1 Context"}, {"bbox": [96, 793, 1134, 1351], "category": "Text", "text": "Liberia is a least developed country in the Gulf of Guinea with a fragile economy and a weak governance structure. In the last 20 years, it has experienced a number of shocks (civil war, Ebola, COVID-19) which have further eroded the ability of the central Government to deliver services to its people. Poor governance is adding to the fragility of the central Government, which is battling to develop and implement policies among scarce resources. The economy is based on a limited number of commodities (iron, gold, rubber, palm oil) and therefore subject to extreme fluctuation on the international markets. The Government continues to be dependent on the support of Development Partners (DPs) and programmes funded by DPs often step in where the Government still is not completely able to deliver services to the population. This is a circumstance triggered by the destruction provoked by the civil war and cannot be abandoned in the short run without severe impact on the already precarious situation of the majority of the population and the social fabric of Liberia. The Government has identified ‘Sustaining the peace’ and ‘Governance and transparency’ as two, out of four, of the main pillars of its national development strategy, the Pro Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD). ‘Sustaining the peace’ is considered essential to the achievement of all other objectives of the PAPD. Under the Pillar ‘Governance and transparency’, Liberia aims to build a peaceful, stable, and inclusive nation that will ensure the participation of the entire citizenry in decision making and that empowers all groups, especially women, children, and people with special needs. Overall, Liberian democracy is improving but is not robust enough yet to offer the country the necessary stability to proceed with reforms toward a more developed and competitive nation. In terms of election cycles, the last one has been relatively peaceful, even if an increase in election-related incidents has been noted in the last 3 years and therefore the next presidential elections scheduled in October 2023 should be closely monitored. On this point the EU Delegation to Liberia deemed relevant the presence of an Election Observer Mission (EOM), timely requested, and whose importance and stabilising role has been recognised by the Government of Liberia."}, {"bbox": [96, 1362, 1134, 1549], "category": "Text", "text": "The last EU Observer Mission was deployed during the past General and Presidential election (2017). Among the main recommendations it was underlined the need to improve: Election Dispute resolution (n.9); passive registration system (n.13); on appropriated National Elections Commission resources on campaign and political party finance (n.16); legislation modification and women participation (n.19); on improved access and opportunity to vote for people with disabilities (n.20). Some improvements, but limited, were underlined by the Election Follow up mission back in 2021. Women and youth constitute the largest portion of Liberia's population, still there are significant gaps in their meaningful participation in political processes. Political parties, which are central actors"}, {"bbox": [85, 1597, 265, 1621], "category": "Footnote", "text": "² JOIN(2020) 5 final."}, {"bbox": [85, 1621, 287, 1645], "category": "Footnote", "text": "³ COM(2020) 790 final."}, {"bbox": [1038, 1680, 1143, 1706], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 4 of 25"}]