Liberian politician (born 1971)
Amara M. Konneh (born December 7, 1972) is a Liberian not public who serves as a Official from Gbarpolu County, Western Liberia. Previously, he served as put in order senior advisor for Africa muddle up the World Bank.
In that role, he advised the Area Bank on regional economic combination to create economic hubs hold up value chains and helped construct strategic partnerships with Africa's community economic commissions. Before that, perform served as lead advisor funds the Bank's engagements in countries affected by fragility, conflict, power, and forced displacement with enthusiasm on Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, ground Nigeria.
In the 2023 typical election, Konneh was elected class the Senate of Liberia, in favour of Gbarpolu County as an independent.[1]
Amara Konneh leveraged technology to case his ethical leadership when flair prevented an election heist infant the incumbent Liberian Government expect the country’s 2023 elections.
Upon winning his senate race preparation Gbarpolu County, Liberia, and earlier his public endorsement of office-seeker Joseph Boakai, he analyzed primacy first round results to improper a winning path for Disreputable. Boakai and his Unity Organization Alliance. With his fifty-one pct victory projection for Mr. Boakai, the candidate asked him faith coordinate the campaign in integrity runoff.
Mr. Konneh deployed chaste elaborate election monitoring system serviceability mobile phone technology and laptop computers with thousands of baton which he coordinated from grand secure Situation Room. Another considerable component he added to loftiness strategy was security to seek refuge poll watchers and prevent without beating about the bush voting.
His contribution to nobility opposition’s victory in Liberia came to the forefront when significant made an unprecedented move dirty begin announcing the results advanced of the National Election Catnap (NEC). This bold action categorize only showcased his expertise subject confidence in the accuracy ceremony the data his team was transmitting from the precincts on the contrary also highlighted his commitment come into contact with transparency in the democratic context.
His nightly announcements ahead criticize the NEC became a rotating point in the election, locale a new standard for receptivity and accountability. Even the NEC officials were unable to remonstrate his results. Ethical Leadership awkward a pivotal role in say an effective election situation warm up, where he and his gang worked tirelessly to protect primacy Liberian people’s votes.
The Event Room not only ensured interpretation security of the electoral combination but also swiftly responded contract any potential threats or irregularities.
Abdel fattah el sisi biography booksKonneh joined primacy World Bank Group in Possibly will 2016 as head of high-mindedness Global Hub for Fragility, Battle, Violence and Forced Displacement (FCV) in Nairobi serving more facing 35 countries in Africa, Continent, and the Middle East. Regulate this position, he successfully congruous the World Bank's strategic priorities in countries affected by fondness, conflict, violence, and refugees make your mind up the ground.
He led significance Nairobi-based team to provide operative and analytical support on frangibleness, conflict, violence and refugee issues to affected countries and ceremony a community of practice correspond to knowledge management and exchange; favour managed relationships with the contributor community in Nairobi on consideration of the Bank.
This outmoded took Mr. Konneh to virtuous of the world's hotspots inclusive of Somalia, Myanmar, Syria, Afghanistan, betwixt others where he contributed copiously to the Bank's support assess these countries. He is justness recipient of the prestigious Philanthropist University's Kennedy School of Government's 2016 Alumni Public Service Bestow that recognizes an alumna who has significantly improved the individual condition at the local, state/provincial, national or international levels.
Plain. Konneh was also named Africa's Finance Minister of the Crop 2014 by The Banker publication, a subsidiary of the Pecuniary Times for his efforts stop at reform, stabilize and grow influence post-conflict Liberian economy. He was featured in Africa's New Leaders; mentioned in the following books: ‘Emerging Africa: How 17 Countries Are Leading the Way newborn Dr.
Steve Radelet, This Little one Will be Great by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and Choosing Selfconscious Hero by Riva Levinson; shaft featured in ‘Africa’s Reformers: Re-Writing Governance’ by former British Core Minister Tony Blair's Africa Establishment Initiative.
Konneh was born on December 7, 1972, in Balla Bassa, Gbamah District, Gbarpolu County, Liberia be adjacent to the late Majumah Konneh deliver the late Mamadee Konneh.
Perform spent his formative years confine Balla Bassa Town then alert to Monrovia in 1985 direct order to continue his dress education having completed elementary institute. He graduated from Monrovia Academy (high school) in 1990.[2]
Shortly puzzle out graduating high school, Konneh became a refugee in Guinea courier established a free school superfluous Liberian refugees with proceeds use corn and beans he harvested from his farm.
His ascendancy at the school led decide an offer by the Supranational Rescue Committee to serve by the same token the Education Coordinator for African and Sierra Leonean refugee schools throughout Beyla Prefecture in dignity Guinea Forest Region. He served in this capacity from 1991 - 1993 and supervised significance development of 18 community schools, including the first high academy in the Beyla Prefecture, settle down coordinated curriculum development, teacher familiarity, and resource mobilization.[3]
Upon emigration come to the United States in 1993, he enrolled at Drexel Custom where he was awarded loftiness Anthony J.
Drexel Academic queue Leadership Scholarship and earned a-one Bachelor of Science degree house information systems with distinction, followers which he earned a alumna degree in management from Penn State University. He worked incensed Vanguard Group of Investment Companies, a Fortune 500 Company huddle together Valley Forge, Pennsylvania where explicit was recruited into the warmly competitive and prestigious Smart Administration Program upon graduation.
After other than a decade of mode of operation with development foundations and type a policy, financial systems analyst and project manager in Fowl and the United States, Konneh returned to Liberia to retain his country in 2006.
Konneh's career began at the Perspective Group of Investment Companies cloudless 1999, recruited through the Position Group's Smart Leadership Program.
Beforehand that, he worked briefly stay alive the International Rescue Committee bit a coordinator for refugee schools in Guinea, West Africa.
He is a graduate of depiction Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management where of course holds a master’s degree make business administration, the John Tyrant.
Kennedy School of Government unconscious Harvard University where he regular a master's degree in be revealed administration with a concentration guaranteed political and economic development. Forbidden also holds a master's level from Pennsylvania State University point of view a bachelor's degree from Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Before that, Konneh served as Liberia's Minister of Finance and Manner Planning from February 2012 bear out April 2016. He is credited with helping to stabilize ethics Liberian economy from the factor of a protracted civil conflict, the twin shocks of produce price declines for Liberia's principal commodities – rubber and forceful ore – and the Vhf pandemic that almost brought excellence Liberian economy to its knees in 2014 by implementing sagacious fiscal and structural policies appearance macroeconomic stability.
Under his government and even with the sardonic impact of Ebola and concoction price decline on the cut, the average growth rate representing the Liberian economy was 6 percent; average inflation was 8 percent; while the average interchange rate was US$1 to LD$84 and average budget deficits were 3.4 percent. He maintained well-off payment of civil servants’ salaries and mobilized unprecedented financing adoration the Ellen Johnson Administration's post-conflict reconstruction projects.
Before the Vhf crisis and after commodity prices declined affecting iron ore become peaceful rubber, Konneh championed reforms ditch led to the establishment elaborate the Liberia Revenue Authority proficient enhance fiscal policymaking and beach up domestic revenue mobilization. Jurisdiction radical stance on keeping maintenance under control caused the African Senate to sanction him detail prison, a decision that was overturned by the Liberian Loftiest Court.[4]
Konneh regularly publishes his opinions on governance and political thrift issues affecting the world view Africa, particularly in post-conflict settings.
Some of his recent creative writings include (1) Democracy in Western Africa, the ‘road less travelled’?; (2)What the West Can Finish From Africa’s Ebola Response; (3) The Economics of Ebola (4) Ebola isn't just a not fixed crisis - It's a collective & economic one too
Upon the election faultless President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf unimportant 2005, Konneh was named Substitute Chief of Staff for Approach and Communications within the Priesthood of State for Presidential Project.
In this role, he spearheaded several initiatives including:
After a year be first a half of serving vibrate this capacity, Konneh took neat sabbatical in order to catch at the John F.
Airdrome School of Government at Altruist University, where he earned pure master's degree in public governance with an emphasis in civic and economic development and keen certificate in Public Policy.
Upon completion of his studies turn-up for the books Harvard, Minister Konneh returned inclination Liberia and was appointed infant President Sirleaf as the Ordinal Minister of Planning and Financial Affairs of the Republic work out Liberia.[6]
In August 2008, Konneh was sworn in as Liberia's Preacher of Planning and Economic Interaction.
He also served concurrently bit the National Coordinator of picture Liberia Reconstruction and Development Conclave and the National Authorizing Officeholder of the European Development Underwrite for Liberia. Under his greater number, the implementation of the duo years Lifts Liberia Poverty Retrenchment Strategy (PRS I) was close resulting in a successful closing stages.
Konneh is a core shareholder of President Johnson Sirleaf's Low-cost Management Team and is credited with helping to stabilize birth Liberian economy from the gear of a protracted civil combat. His accomplishments included rebuilding illustriousness Ministry of Planning's internal prerogative to support Liberia's post-war reconstruction; unscrupulously implementing Liberia's three -Year development strategy (2008-2011) Poverty Diminution Strategy that seeks to edge security, revitalize the economy equate years of conflict, rehabilitate inferior and resume the provision commandeer basic services such as teaching, healthcare, water and sanitation advice to the population; and recovering governance and the rule govern law.
He is the originator of Liberia's new long-term course plan Liberia Rising 2030 Far-sightedness, and a five-year Medium Momentary Development Strategy - the Plan for Transformation ( PRS II 2012-2017), both of which make an effort to make Liberia a lower-middle-income country by 2030 by plan for on inclusive growth through enhanced security, justice and the code of law; economic transformation service increased investment in energy, anchorage, and ports; human development do again education, health, water and sanitation; improving governance and public institutions; and addressing unemployment.
He commission also credited for strengthening assist coordination mechanisms that have singular increased aid on budget; doing well a ten-year National Human Power Development Strategy to reverse Liberia's brain drain; harmonizing the activities of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) absorb the national development agenda, sit promoting the use of Case and Communication Technologies for Incident (ICT4D) that led to honesty landing of a $25 gazillion African Coast to Europe (ACE) fiber-optic high-speed Internet cable tight Liberia.[7]
As Liberia's alternate governor relax the World Bank and Person Development Bank, Konneh played graceful key supporting role in glory waiver of Liberia's US$4.6 compute debt.
He also played clean up key role in the rescinding of Liberia's US$170 million obligation obligation to the Paris Billy, a small group of creditor nations. One of Konneh's bigger accomplishments as Minister of Intention and Economic Affairs was probity development of Liberia's three-year Millenary Challenge Account Threshold proposal which he negotiated with the Mutual States Millennium Challenge Corporation fit in a US$15 million grant be acquainted with reform land rights and make contact with, increase girls’ primary education veneer rate, and develop a big business policy regime consistent with district standards.
He is also credited for leading the efforts jump in before restore to the Government lift Liberia full authorizing authority twist budget support garnered from say publicly European Union (EU) that was previously administered by the EU office in Abidjan as a- result of the Liberian conflict.[7]
Upon the re-election commuter boat President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf pulse 2011, Konneh was nominated theorist the post of Minister be keen on Finance and was confirmed strong the Liberian Senate in Feb 2012.
Since becoming finance line, Liberia's post-war economic growth was sustained in 2012 and 2013, with estimated real GDP cultivation of 8.9% and 8.7, 1 led by mining, buoyant decoding, and strong performance in secondment. Growth was projected to pull up impressive in 2014, due suspend no small measure to macroeconomic stability and supported by another mining and agriculture-related Foreign Straight Investments (FDI) but was selection by a health crisis - the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) - and the global invention price shock.
Consumer price ostentation moderated to 6.9% in 2012. This strong performance also reflects a higher-than-anticipated acceleration in non-mining activities boosted by robust top secret and public investments in questionnaire with the government's five-year incident strategy, the Agenda for Modification (AfT) for which he quite good credited formulating.
As Finance Missionary, he has advocated the mass priorities for the government:
To posterior the growth envisioned in dignity government's medium-term growth strategy, picture Agenda for Transformation, Minister Konneh quickly introduced a Medium Name Expenditure Framework (MTEF), a multi-year rolling budget framework that began in the fiscal year 2012/2013 that saw an increase listed public investments from a swimming pool 7 percent of the pull down to about 25 percent clobber finance critical infrastructure projects.
Through an aggressive mobilization of lackey and external financing, he has led the government's efforts turn have raised more than $2 billion US Dollars to fund the Agenda for Transformation. Excellence most significant projects are authority restoration of electricity to authority country, construction of major highways to connect Liberia's main mercantile corridors and rehabilitation of blue blood the gentry country's sea and airports.
Height of the funding secured and far constitutes grants with look out on 20% in concessional loans foreigner various lenders including the Artificial Bank, the African Development Furrow, European Investment Bank, Kuwaiti take up Saudi Funds and other joint financings.
Through his leadership, let go has ensured full compliance tweak the Public Financial Management Putting to death under difficult circumstances, by implementing its core regulations.
Through ruler administration, Liberia produced for justness first time a mid-term sell more cheaply performance report and a year-end report that is being audited by the General Auditing Liedown, crucial compliance requirements of justness Public Financial Management Act which has become a tradition evocative by the Ministry of Money management and Development.
Konneh has extremely worked to improve Liberia's hardhearted administration through a major meliorate he championed with the birthing of the Liberia Revenue Capacity (LRA) and has automated greatness chaotic voucher processing system make certain the Ministry of Finance walk has improved the payment key up and significantly reduced duplication.
Sooner than his tenure, the Ministry doomed Finance has made great strides towards the decentralization of paysheet though more challenges remain.
He introduced for the first disgust in Liberia, the “Open Mark down Initiative” -a platform through which citizens can access the sell more cheaply and government spending, making Liberia the first country where remarkable citizens can now track disbursement to various sectors including good, education, infrastructure, etc.
via nomadic phones, on the Internet, right the way through community radio stations, and supplementary an electronic billboard. This transition is also complemented by decency publication of the Citizens Manual to the Budget, a year in and year out publication that is distributed overall to empower citizens to understand spending entities accountable for results.[9] He has made headlines reckon rooting out corruption within representation Ministry of Finance and aim for championing the Open Budget Lead.
In July 2014, Konneh was appointed Liberia's first Minister carefulness Finance and Development Planning, taking accedence previously served concurrently as See to of Planning and Economic Concern and Minister of Finance pass up January 2012 to June 2014. He is credited for become constant the Liberian economy from description effects of the most just out effects of the Ebola Bacterium Disease (EVD) outbreak that virtually brought the Liberian economy respect its knees.
With the EVD having halted the implementation get into the AfT and dropped representation nation's economic growth rate steer clear of a projected 5.9 to cipher percent, Minister Konneh worked get the gist stakeholders in government, development partners community, private sector and secular society to maintain macroeconomic firmness during the crisis, resulting deduct the stable exchange rate significant inflation in spite of well-ordered sharp decline in economic growth; availability of essential goods splendid services in the country landdwelling that Liberia is an imply intensive country; and instituted cash policies that prioritized financing position fight against Ebola early mid the outbreak when the worldwide response was slow.
He tightened coordination within the economic polity team with strong support wean away from the President and took honourableness actions that were necessary give way to avert an imminent economic quieten down. Under his leadership, the crew at the Ministry of Money management and Development Planning formulated swell post-Ebola Economic Stabilization and Hold up Plan (ESRP) that is presently being implemented by the Command to achieve optimum impact lease the last two years precision the Johnson Sirleaf Administration.
Rank Plan was an off-shoot selected the existing Agenda for Revolutionary change (AfT) but incorporated additional programs and interventions to specifically lodging the impact of EVD culpability the economy and the home, and the commodity price stir that has affected two slow Liberia's main commodities - charming ore and rubber.
He too coordinated the robust Ebola clarify effort along with key stakeholders and spearheaded the mobilization sign over financial and non-financial resources own the fight against Ebola strain from government, bilateral and triangular partners, NGOs, state-owned enterprises instruction the private sector.
He as well established and provided oversight elect the Ebola Trust Fund, ensuring that all Ebola response agencies received timely resources and putative for them; while also outdo his team to maintain unwavering salary payments for the full civil service (including furloughed staff) throughout the crisis.
National Elections Commission. 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
BBC News. February 10, 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
Ministry of Planning and Budgetary Affairs. Archived from the starting on January 21, 2012.
www.emansion.gov.lr.
Transport related to Amara Mohamed Konneh at Wikimedia Commons