Process mapping of pay and payroll reform in the government of Liberia

This research (i) explores how payroll processes are occurring and being managed in the GOL; (ii) identifies existing gaps; and (iii) recommends performance management structures for enhanced quality control and accountability. The research team used a mixed methods approach, including document reviews, budget analysis, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. The research focused on the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and the Civil Service Agency as the main entities involved in the reform. The research also focused on the Ministry of Education (MOE) as the ministry with the most employees on its payroll. The research team traced pay and payroll processes within the MOE from the central level to the point of salary disbursement for end-user civil servants. This research produced the following findings: ● Under the current pay and payroll reform initiative, the GOL reformed its personnel management system and created uniform, standardized salary structures across the GOL. ● This reduced the GOL’s total wage bill by 10 percent, facilitating acquisition of $214 million in International Monetary Fund (IMF) funding to help the country restore macroeconomic stability, provide a foundation for sustainable growth, and address weaknesses in governance. ● Challenges in salary disbursement present significant hardships for GOL employees, mitigating reform benefits for end users. ● For reforms to be sustained, overarching GOL management structures are needed to manage and sustain pay and payroll reform. Comprehensive institutional rationalization along with corresponding payroll cleaning is required to assess operational efficiency and determine the specific number of needed persons. Accountability mechanisms need to be instituted for end users.