Abstract

Abstract: For over a century, Liberia has operated under a heavily centralized governance structure concentrated in Monrovia, stifling regional development and limiting grassroots civic engagement. This study investigates the institutional dynamics, successes, and persistent implementation gaps of Liberia’s National Policy on Decentralization and Local Governance and the Local Government Act of 2018. Utilizing a mixed-methods research design combining secondary institutional audits, legislative reviews, and key stakeholder interviews across multiple counties, this paper evaluates how administrative, fiscal, and political decentralization impact citizen participation in public decision-making. The findings reveal that while foundational legal frameworks exist, bureaucratic inertia, fiscal centralization, and elite capture at the county level continue to hinder inclusive local governance. The study concludes that successful administrative devolution requires transparent fiscal transfers, robust capacity building for local authorities, and institutionalized civic forums.