Local Government Administration Standard Operating Procedures

The handbook is based on the 2011 National Policy on Decentralization and Local Governance, which aims to accelerate the pace of improvements in the quality of life of the Liberian people through local self-governance and equal opportunity for citizens to participate and have a stake in the development process. The handbook focuses on county and city government, with 14 LGA SOPs that facilitate local governance administration and management in support of sustainable decentralization. The SOPs cover institutional development, human resource development, human resource management, general management functions, and selected general administrative functions. These SOPs are applicable to county and city government, regardless of a centralized or decentralized system. The handbook is organized into 21 chapters, including a preamble, executive summary, purpose of the handbook, legal context, terminology, and 14 SOPs. The SOPs cover topics such as organizing county local government councils, structure and powers of decentralized local government, governance system model, county executive council, county legislative assembly minutes, formal top-management meetings, coordination meetings with NGOs, and policy development. The handbook is guided by existing legislation and official policies, including the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia, 1986, Executive law, 1972, Policy on Decentralization and Local Governance, 2011, Local government law, 1972, and the Civil Service Standing Order. The handbook also references the Civil Service Performance Management Policy Manual, 2016, Civil Service Human Resource Policy, 2013, National Civil Service Training and Development Policy, and the Public Financial Management Reform Strategy and Action Plan, June 2017. Throughout the handbook, references are made to basic public governance administration and management terminology, including power, authority, responsibility, and accountability, delegation, devolved delegated and deconcentrated authority, administration and governance, management, leadership vs. management, efficient, effective, and economic, public goods and services, regulatory, representative, and confirmatory functions, and government official vs. civil servant. The handbook is intended to build and strengthen a decentralized local government system in Liberia, and its contents are based on a consultative process conducted in Monrovia, Ganta City, Nimba County, Gbarnga City Corporation, and Paynesville municipality. The handbook is a valuable resource for local government officials and civil servants in Liberia, providing a comprehensive guide to local governance administration and management in support of sustainable decentralization.