Liberia achieves very good score in EITI implementation

Staff Reporter July 21, 2026Last Updated: July 21, 2026

31 5 minutes read

Outcome of the Validation of Liberia

21 July 2026

Liberia has achieved a very good overall score of 80 points in implementing the 2023 EITI Standard, including one additional point for the effectiveness and sustainability of EITI implementation. The country has demonstrated strong progress in aligning EITI implementation with national development priorities, strengthening public debate and improving access to extractive sector data through innovative digital tools. However, further efforts are needed to strengthen data quality, institutionalise beneficial ownership disclosures, improve environmental transparency and ensure that extractive revenues deliver greater benefits to local communities.

Validation report

Liberia 2026 Validation Report

21 Jul 2026

“Liberia has demonstrated how the EITI can support national reform priorities through strong political commitment, active public engagement, and innovative approaches to open data,” said EITI Board Chair Helen Clark. “As investment in Liberia’s mining and petroleum sectors grows, strengthening data quality, environmental transparency, and community benefit-sharing will help ensure that natural resource wealth contributes to sustainable and inclusive development.”

Liberia’s mining sector is a cornerstone of the national economy. In 2023, the natural resource sector accounted for 56% of GDP and generated approximately USD 152 million in government revenues, with mining contributing 80% of total extractive revenues. Major investments, including the expansion of ArcelorMittal Liberia and renewed offshore petroleum exploration, are expected to further increase the sector’s importance. Under the government’s ARREST Agenda, mining and energy are expected to play a central role in domestic revenue mobilisation and economic transformation.

Using transparency to strengthen public debate and reform

Liberia has successfully integrated EITI implementation into broader national governance reforms. Multi-year work plans are aligned with the government’s ARREST Agenda, while the Liberia EITI (LEITI) data portal has significantly improved public access to information on production, exports, revenues and licences. Innovative communication tools – including local-language materials, infographics, simplified contract summaries and nationwide outreach activities – have helped make extractive sector information accessible to communities, students and policymakers alike.

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Stakeholders gather at a LEITI workshop in Monrovia. Source: LEITI

EITI implementation has also strengthened public debate and accountability. Civil society actively uses EITI data for research, advocacy and fact-checking, including analysis highlighting a USD 2.7 billion gap between reported mineral exports and imports that raised concerns over illicit trade and lost government revenues. EITI findings have also informed broader reforms on beneficial ownership, mining legislation and domestic revenue mobilisation, while supporting closer collaboration between LEITI and anti-corruption institutions to identify governance risks and strengthen oversight.

Strengthening data quality and environmental transparency

To further strengthen transparency of the sector, efforts are needed to improve the quality and reliability of reported data. Significant discrepancies remain in some production and revenue data, while beneficial ownership disclosures are not yet fully institutionalised. Strengthening data assurance and expanding machine-readable disclosures will help improve confidence in extractive sector reporting and support evidence-based policymaking.

Further work is also needed to strengthen transparency around environmental and social impacts. The Validation identifies opportunities to improve disclosures on environmental monitoring, social and environmental expenditures, and the environmental impacts of artisanal and small-scale mining. Greater transparency on subnational revenue distribution and community benefit-sharing will also help ensure that mining revenues contribute more directly to local development.

As Liberia continues to expand mining investment and revive offshore petroleum exploration, maintaining high standards of transparency and accountability will be essential. Building on the country’s strong political commitment, active stakeholder engagement and innovative use of data can help ensure that natural resource wealth supports sustainable economic growth, public trust and long-term national development.