By: Yusuf S. Sherif|A Liberian Tax &Public Policy Professional
I, Yusuf Sherif wish to see the Liberian government prioritize research and development by including same in the national budget. All developed countries’ worldwide strength is in research and development (R & D). I have decided to draft a policy brief and propose the establishment of the National Research Institute of Liberia, where public and private sectors can rely on identifying issues, proffer solutions, and formulate mitigation strategies and framework through research results from reliable data set as a fulcrum in solving complex issues in Liberia.
The world over,research serves as the foundation for innovation, economic growth, and technological advancement. Furthermore, in many developed and emerging economies, research and development (R&D), play a crucial role in shaping policies that drive sustainable progress. In Liberia, Sherif, now advocating for bridging academia and policy to invest and strengthen research and development, innovation, economic policy and technological management. By leveraging and investing in research, Liberia can address complex challenges in key sectors such as transportation, education, health, energy and economic growth.
Hence, many Sub-Sahara African nations such as Rwanda, South Africa, and Ghana, have demonstrated that investments in research can transform economies, optimize the use of natural resources, and enhance overall development. In develop economies, research institutions work closely with policymakers to implement innovations in infrastructure, agriculture, and industry. For the government to follow this path, the government must allocate more funding to R&D and encourage collaboration between universities, private industries, and government agencies. For instance, Rwanda has established the Rwandan Innovation Fund, which finances research in ICT, healthcare and clean energy. This has positioned Rwanda as a tech hub in Africa, attracting investments and service delivery. Liberia can and could adopt a similar approach by establishing a National Research Institute, where scholars and policymakers collaborate to drive innovation in key sectors. Technology plays a crucial role in governance, public service delivery, and industrial growth. Effective technology management ensures that innovations are implemented efficiently and equitably. Interestingly, research in technology management can help Liberia optimize its digital infrastructure, improve e-governance and enhance financial transparency. Kenya have made significant progress through financial technology (FinTech) research, leading to the development of M-Pesa, a mobile money platform that revolutionized financial inclusion. Similarly, Liberia can leverage research to develop local technological solutions that address the challenges of financial exclusion, particularly for small businesses and rural communities.
Besides, a well-researched economic policy ensures effective decision-making and resource allocation. Liberia’s reliance on raw material exports without value addition has limited economic diversification. Research in economic policy can help the country design strategies for industrialization, trade expansion, and investment attraction. Ghana for example, has benefited from research-based policy reform in natural resource management. The establishment of the Ghana integrated Aluminum Development Corporation (GIADEC) aims to process bauxite into aluminum, adding value to raw materials before export. Liberia, rich in iron ore, gold, timber, rubber, palm, etc., can adopt a similar model to ensure that natural resources contribute more significantly to national development.
Adversely, Liberia poor transportation infrastructure hinders trade and urban mobility. Research can provide insights into cost-effective transportation solutions such as Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems and smart traffic management leading to the development of smart cities. Nigeria’s transportation research efforts have led to the implementation of BRT in Lagos, reducing traffic congestion and improving efficiency. Liberia can catch-up adopting similar model to integrate digital payment systems and AI-driven traffic control for improve urban transportation.
Besides, economic growth in Liberia requires a shift from raw material export to industrial production. Research can inform policies on manufacturing, agriculture processing, and value chain development. Botswana has successfully transformed its diamond mining industry by adopting research-driven strategies for local beneficiation, ensuring that raw diamonds are processed domestically before export. Liberia can apply this approach or similar research-based industrial policies in the mining and forestry sectors to create jobs and generate more revenue. Having National Research Institute of Liberia, will attract the scholars and researchers in various disciplines to engage in research to find answers to some of the many questions affecting our nation. Consequently, Liberia’s energy sector remains underdeveloped, with limited electricity access, research in renewable energy solutions, such as solar and hydroelectric power, can enhance energy sustainability. Ethiopia has invested in hydroelectric power research, leading to projects such as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which aims to generate electricity for millions with affordable cost for it citizens’ and industries. Liberia with vast water resources, can conduct feasibility studies for hydro and solar energy projects to boost national electrification for the citizens and industries.
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About the Author
Yusuf S. Sherif is a Policy Analyst for natural Resource Tax at the Revenue and Tax Policy Division, Department of Fiscal Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP). He is a recent graduate of the prestigious Seoul National University;Seoul,South Korea where he obtained his master’s degree in Technology Management and Economic Policy Major (TEMEP) at the College of Engineering.
Mr. Sherif is thoroughbred tax and policy professional. In 2016, he was part of the team that conducted a study and reviewed section 16 of the Liberia Revenue Code as amended in 2011, which deals with incentives for new investment and existing investment for expansion. Mr. Sherif, prior to his sojourn at Seoul National University, he earned his undergraduate BBA Degree in Accounting from Business College, University of Liberia in December 2011.
Besides, he has received many other professional training certificates, which include the following: Certificate in Receipt and Compliance Audit from the International Centre for Information System and Audit (IciSA), Noida, India, in 2020. In 2019, a certificate in Public Financial Management, and much earlier in 2017, a certificate in Macroeconomic Management in Resource-Rich Countries from the IMF Capacity, Institute respectively. In 2016, he received a certificate in Public Policy Analysis from the Liberia Institute of Public Administration.
Having completed his latest round of studies, brother Yusuf S. Sherif has decided to return home to contribute his expertise to the nation and in a competitive work environment to contribute his technical skill to ensure the ARREST Agenda is fully implemented after a period of studies. Conclusively, for Liberia to bridge academia and policy effectively, investment in research must be become a national priority. Scholar Yusuf Sherif can be reached at: mys3445@gmail.com
