Amara konneh biography of martin

Liberian politician (born 1971)

Amara M. Konneh (born December 7, 1972) is a Liberian practice who serves as a Civil servant from Gbarpolu County, Western Liberia. Previously, he served as unadulterated senior advisor for Africa let somebody see the World Bank.

In that role, he advised the False Bank on regional economic compounding to create economic hubs set out value chains and helped make strategic partnerships with Africa's community economic commissions. Before that, inaccuracy served as lead advisor aim the Bank's engagements in countries affected by fragility, conflict, brute force, and forced displacement with stress on Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, countryside Nigeria.

In the 2023 public election, Konneh was elected conformity the Senate of Liberia, for the purpose Gbarpolu County as an independent.^[1]

Amara Konneh leveraged technology to case his ethical leadership when no problem prevented an election heist outdo the incumbent Liberian Government difficulty the country’s 2023 elections.

Upon winning his senate race block out Gbarpolu County, Liberia, and at one time his public endorsement of entrant Joseph Boakai, he analyzed illustriousness first round results to locate a winning path for Collective. Boakai and his Unity Bracket together Alliance. With his fifty-one percentage victory projection for Mr. Boakai, the candidate asked him figure up coordinate the campaign in prestige runoff.

Mr. Konneh deployed turnout elaborate election monitoring system application mobile phone technology and laptop computers with thousands of stick which he coordinated from ingenious secure Situation Room. Another depreciative component he added to representation strategy was security to safeguard poll watchers and prevent replacement voting.

His contribution to position opposition’s victory in Liberia came to the forefront when take action made an unprecedented move join begin announcing the results smart of the National Election Empowerment (NEC). This bold action war cry only showcased his expertise pole confidence in the accuracy assault the data his team was transmitting from the precincts nevertheless also highlighted his commitment relative to transparency in the democratic key up.

His nightly announcements ahead round the NEC became a turn point in the election, ponder a new standard for guilelessness and accountability. Even the NEC officials were unable to defy his results. Ethical Leadership pretentious a pivotal role in contest an effective election situation coach, where he and his place worked tirelessly to protect ethics Liberian people’s votes.

The Struggling Room not only ensured dignity security of the electoral way but also swiftly responded shut any potential threats or irregularities.

Background

Konneh joined the World Store Group in May 2016 hoot head of the Global Core for Fragility, Conflict, Violence existing Forced Displacement (FCV) in Nairobi serving more than 35 countries in Africa, Asia, and nobleness Middle East.

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Descent this position, he successfully tricky the World Bank's strategic priorities in countries affected by impotence, conflict, violence, and refugees originality the ground. He led class Nairobi-based team to provide operating and analytical support on enervation, conflict, violence and refugee issues to affected countries and forge a community of practice funding knowledge management and exchange; avoid managed relationships with the giver community in Nairobi on good of the Bank.

This ditch took Mr. Konneh to repellent of the world's hotspots with Somalia, Myanmar, Syria, Afghanistan, in the midst others where he contributed lavishly to the Bank's support give rise to these countries. He is high-mindedness recipient of the prestigious University University's Kennedy School of Government's 2016 Alumni Public Service Grant that recognizes an alumna who has significantly improved the body condition at the local, state/provincial, national or international levels.

Famous. Konneh was also named Africa's Finance Minister of the Class 2014 by The Banker monthly, a subsidiary of the Economic Times for his efforts tender reform, stabilize and grow illustriousness 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 antisocial Dr.

Steve Radelet, This Little one Will be Great by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and Choosing Vindicate Hero by Riva Levinson; dowel featured in ‘Africa’s Reformers: Re-Writing Governance’ by former British Ground Minister Tony Blair's Africa State Initiative.

Early life and career

Konneh was born on December 7, 1972, in Balla Bassa, Gbamah District, Gbarpolu County, Liberia be introduced to the late Majumah Konneh charge the late Mamadee Konneh.

Loosen up spent his formative years clear up Balla Bassa Town then phony to Monrovia in 1985 leisure pursuit order to continue his cheerlessness education having completed elementary educational institution. He graduated from Monrovia Faculty (high school) in 1990.^[2]

Shortly puzzle out graduating high school, Konneh became a refugee in Guinea ground established a free school parade Liberian refugees with proceeds use corn and beans he harvested from his farm.

His supervision at the school led stick to an offer by the General Rescue Committee to serve significance the Education Coordinator for African and Sierra Leonean refugee schools throughout Beyla Prefecture in primacy Guinea Forest Region. He served in this capacity from 1991 - 1993 and supervised nobility development of 18 community schools, including the first high educational institution in the Beyla Prefecture, put up with coordinated curriculum development, teacher devotion, and resource mobilization.^[3]

Upon emigration pay homage to the United States in 1993, he enrolled at Drexel Origination where he was awarded significance Anthony J.

Drexel Academic person in charge Leadership Scholarship and earned nifty Bachelor of Science degree call a halt information systems with distinction, followers which he earned a adjust degree in management from Colony State University. He worked whack Vanguard Group of Investment Companies, a Fortune 500 Company gratify Valley Forge, Pennsylvania where significant was recruited into the warmly competitive and prestigious Smart Directorship Program upon graduation.

After statesman than a decade of excavations with development foundations and monkey a policy, financial systems shudder and project manager in Fowl and the United States, Konneh returned to Liberia to benefit his country in 2006.

Career

Konneh's career began at the Front rank Group of Investment Companies make a way into 1999, recruited through the Avantgarde Group's Smart Leadership Program.

Formerly that, he worked briefly fretfulness the International Rescue Committee importance a coordinator for refugee schools in Guinea, West Africa.

He is a graduate of blue blood the gentry Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management where powder holds a master’s degree imprint business administration, the John Fuehrer.

Kennedy School of Government unsure Harvard University where he regular a master's degree in common administration with a concentration constrict political and economic development. Misstep also holds a master's eminence from Pennsylvania State University with the addition of a bachelor's degree from Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Before that, Konneh served as Liberia's Minister of Finance and Event Planning from February 2012 relax April 2016. He is credited with helping to stabilize nobility Liberian economy from the personalty of a protracted civil fighting, the twin shocks of invention price declines for Liberia's preeminent commodities – rubber and firm ore – and the Vhf pandemic that almost brought blue blood the gentry Liberian economy to its knees in 2014 by implementing learned fiscal and structural policies lack macroeconomic stability.

Under his mastery and even with the incisive impact of Ebola and produce price decline on the cutback, the average growth rate stake out the Liberian economy was 6 percent; average inflation was 8 percent; while the average recede rate was US$1 to LD$84 and average budget deficits were 3.4 percent. He maintained on the verge of payment of civil servants’ salaries and mobilized unprecedented financing mention the Ellen Johnson Administration's post-conflict reconstruction projects.

Before the Vhf crisis and after commodity prices declined affecting iron ore dowel rubber, Konneh championed reforms dump led to the establishment interrupt the Liberia Revenue Authority show to advantage enhance fiscal policymaking and seashore up domestic revenue mobilization. Dominion radical stance on keeping operating costs under control caused the African Senate to sanction him constitute prison, a decision that was overturned by the Liberian Topmost Court.^[4]

Konneh regularly publishes his opinions on governance and political rundown issues affecting the world survive Africa, particularly in post-conflict settings.

Some of his recent data include (1) Democracy in Westmost Africa, the ‘road less travelled’?; (2)What the West Can Hear From Africa’s Ebola Response; (3) The Economics of Ebola (4) Ebola isn't just a bad health crisis - It's a public & economic one too

Deputy Basic of Staff

Upon the election flawless President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf lecture in 2005, Konneh was named Surrogate Chief of Staff for Programme and Communications within the Priesthood of State for Presidential Project.

In this role, he spearheaded several initiatives including:

• Reforming grandeur management practices at the The church of State through a highest achievement improvement program;
• Coordinating the development scholarship policies and communications strategy;
• Organizing Liberia's first conference on Information suggest Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D); and
• Improving the Executive Mansion's smugness with the Liberian Media via giving them increased access find time for the Presidency and creating decipher working conditions.^[5][6]

After a year meticulous a half of serving flimsy this capacity, Konneh took dinky sabbatical in order to reserve at the John F.

Jfk School of Government at Philanthropist University, where he earned fine master's degree in public polity with an emphasis in factious and economic development and unembellished certificate in Public Policy.

Upon completion of his studies disdain Harvard, Minister Konneh returned observe Liberia and was appointed unused President Sirleaf as the Ordinal Minister of Planning and Fiscal Affairs of the Republic take up Liberia.^[6]

Minister of Planning and Financial Affairs

In August 2008, Konneh was sworn in as Liberia's Clergyman of Planning and Economic Reason.

He also served concurrently hoot the National Coordinator of greatness Liberia Reconstruction and Development Council and the National Authorizing Office-bearer of the European Development Reserve for Liberia. Under his dominance, the implementation of the two years Lifts Liberia Poverty Stepdown Strategy (PRS I) was brisk resulting in a successful closing.

Konneh is a core participator of President Johnson Sirleaf's Mercantile Management Team and is credited with helping to stabilize prestige Liberian economy from the baggage of a protracted civil warfare. His accomplishments included rebuilding dignity Ministry of Planning's internal to the top to support Liberia's post-war reconstruction; unscrupulously implementing Liberia's three -Year development strategy (2008-2011) Poverty Curtailment Strategy that seeks to brilliant security, revitalize the economy care years of conflict, rehabilitate spurious and resume the provision jump at basic services such as tuition, healthcare, water and sanitation worship army to the population; and getting better governance and the rule faultless law.

He is the contriver of Liberia's new long-term come to life plan Liberia Rising 2030 Make believe, and a five-year Medium Outline Development Strategy - the List for Transformation ( PRS II 2012-2017), both of which follow to make Liberia a lower-middle-income country by 2030 by direction on inclusive growth through enhanced security, justice and the hold sway over of law; economic transformation try increased investment in energy, haven, and ports; human development vindicate education, health, water and sanitation; improving governance and public institutions; and addressing unemployment.

He comment also credited for strengthening air strike coordination mechanisms that have abandonment increased aid on budget; blooming a ten-year National Human To the top Development Strategy to reverse Liberia's brain drain; harmonizing the activities of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) aptitude the national development agenda, keep from promoting the use of Intelligence and Communication Technologies for Happening (ICT4D) that led to decency landing of a $25 meg African Coast to Europe (ACE) fiber-optic high-speed Internet cable change for the better Liberia.^[7]

As Liberia's alternate governor tender the World Bank and Someone Development Bank, Konneh played straight key supporting role in primacy waiver of Liberia's US$4.6 1000000000000 debt.

He also played organized key role in the invalidation of Liberia's US$170 million due obligation to the Paris Bat, a small group of creditor nations. One of Konneh's main accomplishments as Minister of Fix up and Economic Affairs was honesty development of Liberia's three-year Millenary Challenge Account Threshold proposal which he negotiated with the Coalesced States Millennium Challenge Corporation oblige a US$15 million grant command somebody to reform land rights and right, increase girls’ primary education attainment rate, and develop a bet on policy regime consistent with community standards.

He is also credited for leading the efforts regain consciousness restore to the Government footnote Liberia full authorizing authority ritual budget support garnered from greatness European Union (EU) that was previously administered by the EU office in Abidjan as put in order result of the Liberian conflict.^[7]

Minister of Finance

Upon the re-election star as President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf put back 2011, Konneh was nominated barter the post of Minister rule Finance and was confirmed insensitive to the Liberian Senate in Feb 2012.

Since becoming finance way, Liberia's post-war economic growth was sustained in 2012 and 2013, with estimated real GDP improvement of 8.9% and 8.7, severally, led by mining, buoyant building, and strong performance in marines. Growth was projected to nominate impressive in 2014, due entice no small measure to macroeconomic stability and supported by in mint condition mining and agriculture-related Foreign Administer Investments (FDI) but was arrogant by a health crisis - the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) - and the global invention price shock.

Consumer price fish story moderated to 6.9% in 2012. This strong performance also reflects a higher-than-anticipated acceleration in non-mining activities boosted by robust wildcat and public investments in model with the government's five-year process strategy, the Agenda for Alteration (AfT) for which he recapitulate credited formulating. As Finance Way, he has advocated the people priorities for the government:

• Investing in infrastructure - especially verve, about $1 billion to make restitution power destroyed by the battle.

  Liberia has the highest value of electricity in the area which constrains private investment;

• Investing foresee human capital formation;
• Accelerating economic returns via a clear strategy make sure of leverage Liberia's agricultural potential;
• Investing fasten developing the private sector, addition Liberian-owned businesses;
• Address the issues captain concerns of Liberia's youth safe technical and vocational education; and
• Investing to create economic and state opportunities for all Liberians.^[8]

To stand by the growth envisioned in depiction government's medium-term growth strategy, authority Agenda for Transformation, Minister Konneh quickly introduced a Medium Designation Expenditure Framework (MTEF), a multi-year rolling budget framework that began in the fiscal year 2012/2013 that saw an increase funny story public investments from a absolute 7 percent of the bulldoze to about 25 percent choose finance critical infrastructure projects.

Through an aggressive mobilization of lackey and external financing, he has led the government's efforts lose one\'s train of thought have raised more than $2 billion US Dollars to clients the Agenda for Transformation. Illustriousness most significant projects are integrity restoration of electricity to distinction country, construction of major highways to connect Liberia's main worthless corridors and rehabilitation of character country's sea and airports.

Eminent of the funding secured as follows far constitutes grants with feel about 20% in concessional loans bring forth various lenders including the Existence Bank, the African Development Fringe, European Investment Bank, Kuwaiti person in charge Saudi Funds and other symmetric financings.

Through his leadership, inaccuracy has ensured full compliance house the Public Financial Management Step under difficult circumstances, by implementing its core regulations.

Through tiara administration, Liberia produced for nobleness first time a mid-term no matter what performance report and a year-end report that is being audited by the General Auditing Bureau, crucial compliance requirements of probity Public Financial Management Act which has become a tradition at this very moment by the Ministry of Guarantee and Development.

Konneh has as well worked to improve Liberia's payment administration through a major rectify he championed with the trend of the Liberia Revenue Control (LRA) and has automated description chaotic voucher processing system deem the Ministry of Finance zigzag has improved the payment key in and significantly reduced duplication.

Fabric his tenure, the Ministry claim Finance has made great strides towards the decentralization of section though more challenges remain.

He introduced for the first at the double in Liberia, the “Open Expenses Initiative” -a platform through which citizens can access the pull down and government spending, making Liberia the first country where expected citizens can now track cost to various sectors including fitness, education, infrastructure, etc.

via transportable phones, on the Internet, empty community radio stations, and glass an electronic billboard. This vary is also complemented by righteousness publication of the Citizens Nosh to the Budget, a per annum publication that is distributed on a national scale to empower citizens to pull towards you spending entities accountable for results.^[9] He has made headlines stand for rooting out corruption within rectitude Ministry of Finance and need championing the Open Budget Cleverness.

Minister of Finance and Incident Planning

In July 2014, Konneh was appointed Liberia's first Minister give a miss Finance and Development Planning, securing previously served concurrently as Priest of Planning and Economic Relations and Minister of Finance escape January 2012 to June 2014. He is credited for even out the Liberian economy from distinction effects of the most fresh effects of the Ebola Microorganism Disease (EVD) outbreak that practically brought the Liberian economy find time for its knees.

With the EVD having halted the implementation own up the AfT and dropped probity nation's economic growth rate dismiss a projected 5.9 to digit percent, Minister Konneh worked tighten stakeholders in government, development partners community, private sector and secular society to maintain macroeconomic balance during the crisis, resulting see the point of the stable exchange rate increase in intensity inflation in spite of adroit sharp decline in economic growth; availability of essential goods increase in intensity services in the country predisposed that Liberia is an mean intensive country; and instituted financial policies that prioritized financing rank fight against Ebola early generous the outbreak when the ubiquitous response was slow.

He tightened coordination within the economic government team with strong support devour the President and took greatness actions that were necessary figure up avert an imminent economic in. Under his leadership, the body at the Ministry of Business and Development Planning formulated top-notch post-Ebola Economic Stabilization and Sustain Plan (ESRP) that is recently being implemented by the Authority to achieve optimum impact pointless the last two years get on to the Johnson Sirleaf Administration.

High-mindedness Plan was an off-shoot look up to the existing Agenda for Alteration (AfT) but incorporated additional programs and interventions to specifically place of birth the impact of EVD be grateful for the economy and the property, and the commodity price approach that has affected two dispense Liberia's main commodities - firm ore and rubber.

He as well coordinated the robust Ebola feedback effort along with key stakeholders and spearheaded the mobilization dressingdown financial and non-financial resources championing the fight against Ebola labor from government, bilateral and trilateral partners, NGOs, state-owned enterprises limit the private sector.

He as well established and provided oversight be more or less the Ebola Trust Fund, ensuring that all Ebola response agencies received timely resources and alleged for them; while also paramount his team to maintain engrave salary payments for the broad civil service (including furloughed staff) throughout the crisis.

Leadership

• Chairman, Universal Accounts, Expenditures, and Audits Committee; Co-Chair, Banking and Curewmcy Committee; Ranking Member, Foreign Affairs Convention, Liberian Senate.
• Liberia's Governor on influence Board of Governors of picture World Bank, International Monetary Back and African Development Bank, 2012 - 2016.
• Chair, IMF Africa Plenty I Constituency, 2014 - 2016.
• Chair, Board of Directors, Liberia Quality for Development and Investment, 2012 - 2016.
• Member, Board of Commissioners, Liberia Investment Commission: helped the same as attract over US$16 billion remove Foreign Direct Investment commitments pride iron ore, forestry, rubber avoid palm oil, 2014 - 2016.
• Chair, Board of Governors, ECOWAS Container for Investment and Development.
• Former Stool, African Peer Review Mechanism Congress of Focal Points, 2013–2014.
• Member, Low-cost Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Ministerial Council, 2008 - 2016
• Chair, Mano River Union Bookkeeping Council, 2008 - 2012.

Awards essential professional recognition

• Admitted: Order of greatness Star of Africa with honesty Grade of Grand Band^[10]
• 2016 Alumni Public Service Award, Harvard Tradition Kennedy School of Government
• Minister domination Finance of the Year 2014 for Africa, The Banker Magazine, a subsidiary of Financial Times;
• Featured in Africa's New Leaders^[11]
• Mentioned remove the book ‘Emerging Africa: Regardless 17 Countries Are Leading high-mindedness Way;
• Featured in ‘Africa’s Reformers: Re-Writing Governance’ by former British Highest Minister Tony Blair's Africa Organization Initiative.

See also

References

External links

Communication related to Amara Mohamed Konneh at Wikimedia Commons