Knowledge for a Stronger Liberia.
Liberia's first independent, non-partisan policy research institution, producing rigorous analysis that shapes decisions, builds institutions, and secures Liberia's future.
Decisions shaped by evidence, not ideology.
As Liberia's foremost independent policy research institution, we're headquartered in Monrovia, staffed by Liberians, and committed to producing analysis that outlasts any single administration or donor cycle.
We believe that the quality of Liberia's governance, the strength of its institutions, and the rigor of its policy analysis are just as important to the country's long-term trajectory as roads, hospitals, and ports. Knowledge is infrastructure.
Read our full mission"To advance evidence-based policy in Liberia through rigorous research, inclusive dialogue, and strategic partnerships."
LISSD · Monrovia, Liberia
Six programs. One purpose.
Economic Growth & Trade
Diversification roadmaps, ECOWAS integration, investment climate benchmarking, and resource governance.
Governance & Rule of Law
Anti-corruption measurement, public financial management, decentralization, and electoral reform.
Security & Peacebuilding
Security sector reform, transitional justice, regional conflict dynamics, and DDR lessons.
Energy, Climate & Resources
Energy access, forest governance, mining sector oversight, climate finance, and blue economy.
Human Capital & Social Policy
Education reform, health system resilience, youth employment, gender equity, and diaspora engagement.
International Cooperation
US-Liberia relations, China engagement, development finance effectiveness, and ECOWAS participation.
Analysis that moves policy.
Annual State of Liberia Report — The Definitive National Assessment
LISSD's flagship annual publication: a comprehensive review of Liberia's economic performance, governance trajectory, security environment, and human development progress.
Learn more about LISSD researchLiberia's ECOWAS Trade Position: Gaps and Opportunities Under AfCFTA
An assessment of non-tariff barriers and customs modernization priorities.
Liberia Governance Index 2025 — Baseline Assessment
A composite measure of institutional quality, corruption, and rule of law.
The LISSD Policy Fellowship
Launching in 2027, this fellowship will select 4–12 exceptional young Liberians each year for a 3–12 month fellowship embedded within LISSD's research programs.
Fellows receive mentorship and the opportunity to publish research under the LISSD banner, becoming the next generation of Liberian policy leaders in government, business, and civil society.
Register InterestA position no one else occupies.
Liberian-Led
Senior leadership will always be Liberian, and the research agenda is set by Liberian institutional needs, not donor preferences.
Permanently Grounded
Not a donor-funded project that ends in three years. An institution with deep roots, long memory, and compounding impact.
Trade Nexus Expertise
Deeper expertise at the trade-investment-governance nexus than any existing institution, in what is the most underdeveloped policy space in Liberia.
Global Reach
Formal partnerships with CSIS and international peers create a genuine channel between Liberian ideas and global policy.
Be a co-founder of Liberia's future.
Founding donors are not donors to LISSD. They are co-founders of LISSD. Their names will be in the first document the institution ever publishes — and in the last.
Investment in policy research institutions is among the highest-leverage forms of development spending. A single well-timed policy brief can shift government decision-making on a budget worth millions of dollars. A decade of sustained research can transform the policy culture of an entire country.
Stay informed on Liberia's policy landscape.
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