The Legislative Information Service (LIS) of the Liberian Legislature, in partnership with Naymote Partners for Democratic Development, convened a one-day working session aimed at reviewing the revised Terms of Reference (ToR) for LIS’s three core divisions. The session, held at the Capitol, brought together stakeholders to assess and refine the operational scope of the Management Information Service (MIS), Quality Enhancement Service (QES), and Committee Support Service (CSS).
The working session also featured the formal introduction of four Naymote-sponsored interns who will be deployed across various departments of the Legislature to support ongoing efforts to strengthen lawmaking, oversight, and representation.
With the updated ToR under review, LIS seeks to enhance its service delivery to lawmakers by refining its support systems. The MIS division will focus on bolstering research and legislative drafting capabilities; the CSS division is set to improve lawmakers’ oversight functions through targeted support to legislative committees; and the QES division will concentrate on strengthening the legislature’s representation functions, ensuring that constituents’ voices are reflected in legislative actions.
Discussions centered around clarifying the roles and responsibilities of each division to ensure greater alignment with LIS’s mission to provide professional library, archival, and research services to all 103 lawmakers, committees, legislative staff, and the general public. Participants also examined opportunities for improving service quality and fostering collaboration between LIS and legislative committees to promote greater transparency and public engagement.
The LIS was established under the Legislature’s five-year Modernization Plan (2009 to 2013) and serves as lawmakers’ principal research and information resource. Its partnership with Naymote, a civil society group committed to promoting democratic accountability, has yielded multiple training programs, capacity-building seminars, and equipment donations, including laptops to support staff productivity.
A recent seminar organized by the two institutions under the theme “Advancing the Culture of Legislative Openness and Ensuring Citizens’ Interests are Represented” aimed to strengthen staff capacity and legislative transparency.
Naymote Executive Director Eddie Jarwolo reaffirmed his organization’s commitment to legislative support and transparency. He expressed enthusiasm over Naymote’s involvement in improving the quality of services lawmakers provide to citizens and pledged continued collaboration and donor engagement to advance democratic governance.
LIS Director McCarthy Weh described the working session as timely and productive. He said he is cautiously optimistic about the progress of the 55th Legislature and urged lawmakers to prioritize capacity-building and professional development for legislative staff. According to him, the newly revised ToR will enhance the Legislature’s overall performance and make the institution more accessible and accountable to the Liberian people.
