–As big Development Conference ends in Monrovia
By J-Karba Williams
US Assistant Secretary of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Marie Royce said during her visit to Liberia this week that the United States remains committed to assisting this post-conflict country explore educational and cultural opportunities.
She said this is a way to continue strengthen the links between academic institutions, businesses and civil society organizations.
Assistant Secretary Royce was delivering the keynote speech in Monrovia, on Thursday, at the start of a two-day Liberia Development Conference under the auspices of USAID Monrovia and Government of Liberia. Partners of the conference include the University of Liberia, the Ministry of Finance and Planning on the theme: “Implementing a Vision for Prosperous and Self-Reliance”.
The American State Department official said these connections are essential because the United States and Liberia are both stronger and more prosperous, when the people of the two countries share idea, experiences and work closely together.
Madam Boyce commended the government of Liberia, the University of Liberia’s Policy and Research Studies and USAID Monrovia for jointly hosting the important gathering on the theme: “Implementing a Vision for Prosperity and Self Reliance,” as US President Donald Trump has said.
The visit of the US Assistant Secretary of State followed the visit to Liberia of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation.
Madam Royce said the development conference coming after the IMF’s mission is timely, as it affords a robust discussion among policymakers, civil society representatives, business leaders, and development partners to consider what is ahead on its road to self-reliance, inclusive growth and prosperity.
According to the US official, President Trump said we must “facilitate the cultural, educational and people-to-people exchanges that create the networks of current, future political, civil society and educational leaders who will extend a free and prosperous world”
She said, the United States remains committed to increasing educational and cultural exchange opportunities as a way to continue strengthen the links between academic institutions, business and civil society organizations.
At the United States Department, the US diplomat said she leads the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs responsible strengthening the relationships between the people of the United States and other countries through international exchange programs many of which promote education and entrepreneurship across Liberia.
“One of the premises of this conference is that Liberia needs to deepen its policymaking capacity and skills up its knowledge economy because developing countries cannot afford neglect t afford neglect their knowledge-based assets,” she added.
She noted that Liberia’s universities, college and technical schools some of which are the oldest institutions and technical schools some of which are the oldest institutions and higher education in sub-Saharan Africa are the starting point for the country’s knowledge economic.
The American official added that the institutions are educating Liberia workforce for tomorrow. They are doing the research, compelling the evidence and recording there history, which Liberia will scale its policies and value.
The US diplomat said her Bureau ECA would like to increase partnerships between institutions of higher education, and exchanges of individual scholars and students.
Shortly upon her arrival in Monrovia, the US Assistant Secretary of State held talks with President Weah at his Foreign Affairs Ministry office.
Meanwhile, United Ambassador accredited near Monrovia, Christine Elders has said the International Monetary Funds (IMF) program that Liberia is negotiating can help stabilize the country economy, while preserving existing necessities in healthcare and education upon which Liberia’s most vulnerable depend.
The US Ambassador said it will also drive needed reform of Liberia’s public sector wage bill and its monetary and fiscal policies and strategy that are designed by the institutions will guide US development initiatives in Liberia for the next five years, so that it aligns with the pillars of your poor-poor agenda.
She informed President Weah that strategy derived at by the conference will guide U.S. development initiatives in Liberia for the next five years, so that it aligns with the pillars of the CDC government’s Pro-poor agenda.
“We appreciate your presence today and participation of your government. As stakeholders all of us in this room each time we look back and evaluate honestly how effective certain decisions or initiatives have been. We are reminded that development is an iterative process that requires the capacity to change over time and build on success, as we as learn from mistakes with the ultimate goal of developing more viable policy options and laws. It require cooperation among all branches of government, consultation among stakeholders in today society, research and analysis, planning and strategic capacity, and rigorous and monitoring,” said the US Ambassador.
She said she is confident that the discussions generated by this conference will contribute to advancing our collective efforts to combat poverty and help steer Liberia on its journey to self-reliance.
The US envoy asserted that the American people and the U.S government value these programs, because they are important catalysts of the innovation and dynamism of the education system, the economy and society.