Strengthening Education Policy Through Data: Liberia National EMIS Policy Dialogue Report

Education is universally recognised as the foundation of sustainable national development, enabling countries to cultivate skilled human capital, promote social equity, and stimulate long-term economic growth. A well-functioning education sector, however, depends not only on adequate resources but also on reliable and timely data to guide decision-making. Education Management Information Systems (EMIS) are designed to meet this need by systematically collecting, analysing, storing, and disseminating education-related data to inform policy, planning, and effective resource allocation.

In Liberia, meaningful progress has been made in advancing EMIS, including improvements in school data collection and reporting. Nevertheless, structural and operational challenges— such as limited technical capacity, weak infrastructure, and financial constraints—continue to hinder its full potential. To address these issues, the Ministry of Education, in partnership with the Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (KIX) Africa 19 Hub, convened a National EMIS Policy Dialogue. The dialogue provided a platform for government officials, education experts, statisticians, regional institutions, and development partners to validate findings from a recent EMIS self-assessment, share best practices, and build consensus on the way forward.