Reported by: Prince Saah
Monrovia, Liberia – The Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) and the French development organization, Institut Européen de Coopération et de Développement (IECD), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at strengthening the certification and licensing of electrical professionals and contractors across Liberia.
The agreement formalizes a longstanding collaboration between the two institutions and is expected to support the implementation of key activities under LERC’s Certification and Licensing of Electrical Professionals and Contractors Program.
Speaking Friday, June 12, 2026, during the signing ceremony, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of LERC Claude J. Katta noted that IECD has been a valuable partner in the development of the Commission’s Certification and Licensing of Electrical Professionals and Contractors Regulations.
According to him, the organization helped standardize and validate the curriculum for the certification program, which has since been approved by the Ministry of Education. Speaking, the LERC Chairman welcomed the agreement, describing it as a major step toward strengthening professionalism, safety standards, and regulatory compliance within Liberia’s electricity sector.
“We are very happy about this collaboration and cooperation. Through this partnership, we will be able to advance our work, especially in the field of certification. We assure our partners that we will work tirelessly to ensure that together we achieve our objectives,” Chairman Katta said.
For his part, Alexander Vial, IECD Liberia’s Country Director highlighted the contribution of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), whose funding through the STRIVE Project has supported workforce development initiatives in Liberia since 2020. According to him, the STRIVE Project is approaching its conclusion, making the formalization of the partnership with LERC particularly important as both institutions seek to strengthen standards and build a more qualified electrical workforce.
“We are very pleased to be part of this certification project. It is an important initiative, and we will continue to support LERC through workshops and other activities before the end of the year,” he said.
In closing remarks, Commissioner, Cllr. Kla Edward Toomey, ll said that the importance of maintaining high levels of expertise and preparedness within a rapidly evolving electricity sector. “The role that we play is to regulate the electricity market. We are the referee, and if anyone should master the rules of the game, it is the referee. Our role continues to evolve, and we must remain ahead of the changes taking place in the sector,” a commission official stated.
The partnership is expected to improve professional standards among electrical practitioners, enhance compliance with national regulations, and contribute to the development of a safer, more reliable, and more efficient electricity sector in Liberia. Under the MOU, LERC and IECD will jointly implement a series of activities designed to support the 2026 Certification and Licensing of Electrical Professionals and Contractors Program.
The initiative includes support for the construction and enhancement of practical laboratory infrastructure at the LERC Occupational and Industrial Center (LOIC) Gbarnga Satellite Campus, a collaborative effort requested by LERC to improve hands-on technical training. The partnership will also facilitate the establishment and operation of an Examination Development and Evaluation Committee, workshops to finalize interview panel guidelines, and the development of certification examination blueprints.
Additional activities include the preparation and administration of mock examinations to better prepare candidates for the certification process. As part of the rollout, the Commission will announce official examination dates and testing centers for the 2026 certification cycle, receive and review applications, and oversee the secure printing and distribution of examination materials.
The programme will feature two regional written certification examinations and two regional practical examinations, followed by evaluation sessions involving test development and assessment experts. Interview panels will also be deployed across Liberia’s regions to conduct competency-based assessments of candidates.Public awareness campaigns will be conducted throughout the process, including announcements related to examination schedules, interview dates and venues, and the release of examination results.
