By: Ezekiel Geeplay
MONROVIA, Nov 19, 2024- The University of Liberia, in collaboration with the World Bank, has launched a procurement internship program for students in the University’s Master degree program.
The official launching ceremony was held Monday, November 18, 2024 in Monrovia at a local hotel with World Bank Country Manager Ms. Georgia A. Wallen serving as Chief launcher.
Representing UL Acting President Dr. Al-Hassan Conteh at the program, the University Vice President for Academic Affairs Prof. Dr. Agnes Reeves Taylor said Liberia had emerged from a period of civil war where a lot of things broke down.
She said in order to build a strong country; there is a need to ensure that things are done appropriately for the common good of the country educational sector.
“It was seen fit to bring the program back into the university, the capacity needed by this country is far-reaching. The University of Liberia, being the premier institution of learning is the place to host such an innovative type of program,” she added.
Meanwhile, UL Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research Prof. Dr. Jonathan C. Taylor recalled that the process began as far back as 2003-2004, growing out of a Joint UN/World Bank Needs Assessment of Liberian public service.
“A two-year Master’s Program in public financial management was launched as a collaborative venture of the partners with a Governing Board chaired by the then Ministry of Finance and membership including the University of Liberia (UL), Civil Service Agency (CSA), the Liberia Institute of Public Administration (LIPA), and the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission or (PPCC), he noted.
According to Dr. Taylor, the Needs Assessment recognized the weaknesses of Liberia’s public financial management institutional framework as a binding constraint to the nation’s post-conflict reconstruction and development.
Dr. Taylor detailed that the World Bank-funded Financial Management Training Program (FMTP) was established in 2006 under the auspices of the Low-Income Countries Under Stress (LICUS) Trust Fund to help address this capacity gap.
“Having successfully executed these programs from 2006 to 2017, followed by a series of consultative meetings with university stakeholders, the Governing Board resolved to transfer the program to the campus of the University of Liberia,” he continued.
Officially launching the program, World Bank Country Manager Ms. Georgia A. Wallen said interns will be attached to a World Bank project for 12 months.
“During the internship, interns will be attached to a World Bank project for a period of 12 months. They will gain first-hand experience with the World Bank’s procurement policies and implementation procedures, which we are all working to make faster and faster,” Ms. Wallen noted.
She termed the launch of the UL Procurement Internship Program is another step in a new aspect of the longstanding collaboration between the two institutions.
“The work between the University of Liberia and the World Bank is investing in future generations of leaders.We believe in you and we believe in the future of Liberia,” the World Bank official said.
Later, in 2011, he said the short-term Intensive Procurement Training Program (IPTP) offering the postgraduate diploma in procurement came into being.
The program brought together the leadership, staff, and students of the University of Liberia, World Bank Representatives, and other invitees.
