In a demonstration of their commitment to working together on a variety of assistance programs, Amara Konneh, minister of planning and economic affairs for Liberia, and UGA President Michael F. Adams signed a memorandum of understanding during a ceremony Sept. 29.
The agreement outlines a long-term plan to expand assistance programs in governance reform through a continued partnership between Liberia and the university. It also calls for new cooperation in agricultural assistance.
The basis for the memorandum came out of meetings in Monrovia between Adams and UGA administrators, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Konneh and other senior officials of the Liberian government. It formalizes the strong ties that have developed between UGA and Liberia in recent years.
UGA provides public sector training in Liberia through its Carl Vinson Institute of Government. The Vinson Institute began a partnership with the Liberia Institute of Public Administration in 2007. Together, CVIOG and LIPA have worked directly with Liberia’s National Legislature on
public finance training for members of the legislature.
Konneh met with Vinson Institute administrators during his trip to Athens to discuss how the university can continue to support the government of Liberia’s efforts to rebuild an efficient public sector in Liberia.
He oversees the development and implementation of the National Capacity Development Strategy, which focuses on building Liberia’s human capacity.
Central to these efforts is the promotion of technical and leadership skills among public officials that are necessary for good governance.
A group of senators and representatives from Liberia traveled to Georgia for two weeks in 2008 and engaged in an intensive training program to enhance their understanding of budget development and oversight.
Additionally, LIPA staff worked closely with Vinson Institute faculty to develop their own training and assistance programs. CVIOG and LIPA will seek to expand this legislative training program to include members of the executive branch as well.
