MARGIBI COUNTY – Middle-level staff of the National Elections Commission (NEC) of Liberia are strengthening their leadership and organizational management skills through an intensive BRIDGE Institutional Excellence Workshop aimed at enhancing the Commission’s effectiveness, accountability, and readiness to deliver credible electoral services.
The ongoing workshop, being held in Margibi County, is equipping participants with practical knowledge on institutional excellence and its role in promoting efficient governance, improved organizational performance, and sustainable institutional development.
Facilitators emphasized that institutional excellence goes beyond individual competence, stressing that high-performing institutions are built on effective leadership, sound governance systems, robust operational processes, strategic planning, and a culture that values integrity, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Throughout the training, participants are examining the fundamental pillars of institutional excellence, including visionary leadership, strategic management, human resource development, effective communication, accountability mechanisms, organizational learning, and performance management.
Discussions during the opening day of the workshop on Tuesday, July 14, focused on how these principles can strengthen NEC’s institutional capacity, improve internal coordination, enhance operational efficiency, and reinforce public confidence in Liberia’s electoral management body.
Participants also explored internationally recognized principles that underpin successful public institutions, including transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, responsiveness, efficiency, effectiveness, ethical leadership, and citizen-centered service delivery. Facilitators noted that embedding these values into the Commission’s day-to-day operations is essential to maintaining public trust and ensuring the long-term credibility of Liberia’s electoral processes.
Speaking during the session, NEC Executive Director Anthony K. Sengbe, Sr. encouraged participants to translate the knowledge gained during the workshop into practical action within their respective departments.
He urged staff to become champions of institutional excellence by embracing innovation, teamwork, and accountability while helping to build a stronger, more responsive, and results-oriented Commission capable of effectively fulfilling its constitutional mandate.
According to organizers, the BRIDGE Institutional Excellence Training Course continues through July 16 with sessions designed to provide practical tools and strategies for strengthening organizational performance, improving collaboration across departments, enhancing problem-solving, and cultivating a culture of continuous improvement throughout the Commission.
The workshop forms part of NEC’s broader institutional capacity-building efforts as the Commission continues to strengthen its internal systems and prepare its workforce to effectively respond to the evolving demands of election administration. Strengthening institutional capacity remains central to NEC’s commitment to delivering transparent, credible, inclusive, and professionally managed elections in Liberia.
Implemented through the NEC Training Section, the workshop is being conducted with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Liberia and the European Union in Liberia under the Liberia Electoral Support Project (LESP). The current session marks the third phase of the BRIDGE Institutional Excellence Workshop, reflecting the Commission’s sustained investment in professional development and organizational excellence.
Facilitating the workshop are NEC Executive Director Anthony K. Sengbe, Sr., Deputy Executive Director for Operations Emma K. Togba, Director of Training Atty. James S. B. Wallace, and Director of Field Coordination Deddeh Pusah—all accredited BRIDGE facilitators with extensive experience in electoral administration, institutional development, and capacity building.
The BRIDGE (Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections) program is internationally recognized as one of the world’s premier professional development initiatives for election administrators. It equips electoral management bodies with globally recognized best practices in leadership, governance, strategic planning, and institutional development, helping strengthen democratic institutions and improve the quality and credibility of electoral processes.
As Liberia continues implementing electoral reforms and preparing for future electoral activities, initiatives such as the BRIDGE Institutional Excellence Workshop are expected to play a vital role in enhancing NEC’s institutional resilience, improving service delivery, and reinforcing public confidence in the country’s democratic institutions.
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