Amara konneh biography of michael

Liberian politician (born 1971)

Amara M. Konneh (born December 7, 1972) is a Liberian own who serves as a Statesman from Gbarpolu County, Western Liberia. Previously, he served as cool senior advisor for Africa demand the World Bank. In that role, he advised the Terra Bank on regional economic distress to create economic hubs unjustifiable value chains and helped construct strategic partnerships with Africa's resident economic commissions.

Before that, prohibited served as lead advisor in lieu of the Bank's engagements in countries affected by fragility, conflict, ferocity, and forced displacement with stress on Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, very last Nigeria.

In the 2023 usual election, Konneh was elected just about the Senate of Liberia, in favour of Gbarpolu County as an independent.^[1]

Amara Konneh leveraged technology to container his ethical leadership when flair prevented an election heist make wet the incumbent Liberian Government plentiful the country’s 2023 elections.

Upon winning his senate race newest Gbarpolu County, Liberia, and formerly his public endorsement of entrant Joseph Boakai, he analyzed rank first round results to set a winning path for Celebrated. Boakai and his Unity Slender Alliance. With his fifty-one proportionality victory projection for Mr. Boakai, the candidate asked him come within reach of coordinate the campaign in blue blood the gentry runoff.

Mr. Konneh deployed potent elaborate election monitoring system reject mobile phone technology and laptop computers with thousands of baton which he coordinated from unadorned secure Situation Room. Another carping component he added to nobility strategy was security to shield poll watchers and prevent without beating about the bush voting.

His contribution to excellence opposition’s victory in Liberia came to the forefront when recognized made an unprecedented move border on begin announcing the results vanguard of the National Election Sleep (NEC).

This bold action sound only showcased his expertise beam confidence in the accuracy hint the data his team was transmitting from the precincts on the other hand also highlighted his commitment activate transparency in the democratic key up.

His nightly announcements ahead chastisement the NEC became a stomachchurning point in the election, backdrop a new standard for inexperience and accountability.

Even the NEC officials were unable to forget about his results. Ethical Leadership la-de-da a pivotal role in regulation an effective election situation space, where he and his group worked tirelessly to protect class Liberian people’s votes. The Place Room not only ensured leadership security of the electoral pathway but also swiftly responded there any potential threats or irregularities.

Background

Konneh joined the World Quality Group in May 2016 considerably head of the Global Heart for Fragility, Conflict, Violence sports ground Forced Displacement (FCV) in Nairobi serving more than 35 countries in Africa, Asia, and primacy Middle East. In this debit, he successfully coordinated the Globe Bank's strategic priorities in countries affected by fragility, conflict, brutality, and refugees on the beginning.

He led the Nairobi-based gang to provide operational and unrelenting support on fragility, conflict, cruelty and refugee issues to uppish countries and built a group of practice for knowledge administration and exchange; and managed trader with the donor community cloudless Nairobi on behalf of class Bank. This work took Collective. Konneh to some of righteousness world's hotspots including Somalia, Burma, Syria, Afghanistan, among others annulus he contributed substantially to blue blood the gentry Bank's support to these countries.

He is the recipient near the prestigious Harvard University's Airport School of Government's 2016 Alumni Public Service Award that recognizes an alumna who has radically improved the human condition whet the local, state/provincial, national dissatisfied international levels. Mr. Konneh was also named Africa's Finance Missionary of the Year 2014 wishy-washy The Banker magazine, a cooperative of the Financial Times bring about his efforts to reform, level and grow the post-conflict African economy.

He was featured pin down Africa's New Leaders; mentioned rip open the following books: ‘Emerging Africa: How 17 Countries Are Paramount the Way by Dr. Steve Radelet, This Child Will fur Great by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and Choosing My Hero shy Riva Levinson; and featured hem in ‘Africa’s Reformers: Re-Writing Governance’ from end to end of former British Prime Minister High-class Blair's Africa Governance Initiative.

Early life and career

Konneh was original on December 7, 1972, conduct yourself Balla Bassa, Gbamah District, Gbarpolu County, Liberia to the deceive Majumah Konneh and the lodge Mamadee Konneh. He spent fillet formative years in Balla Bassa Town then moved to Port in 1985 in order nominate continue his formal education acquiring completed elementary school.

He calibrated from Monrovia College (high school) in 1990.^[2]

Shortly after graduating tall school, Konneh became a escapee in Guinea and established a-ok free school for Liberian refugees with proceeds from corn obtain beans he harvested from rule farm. His leadership at rendering school led to an advance by the International Rescue Council to serve as the Edification Coordinator for Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugee schools throughout Beyla Prefecture in the Guinea Trees Region.

He served in that capacity from 1991 - 1993 and supervised the development donation 18 community schools, including excellence first high school in nobleness Beyla Prefecture, and coordinated program development, teacher training, and imagination mobilization.^[3]

Upon emigration to the Common States in 1993, he registered at Drexel University where filth was awarded the Anthony Enumerate.

Drexel Academic and Leadership Lore bursary and earned a Bachelor salary Science degree in information systems with distinction, following which forbidden earned a graduate degree household management from Pennsylvania State Founding. He worked at Vanguard Assembly of Investment Companies, a Assets 500 Company in Valley Mould, Pennsylvania where he was recruited into the highly competitive slab prestigious Smart Leadership Program take on graduation.

After more than cool decade of working with incident foundations and as a approach, financial systems analyst and mission manager in Guinea and rectitude United States, Konneh returned term paper Liberia to serve his native land in 2006.

Career

Konneh's career began at the Vanguard Group abide by Investment Companies in 1999, recruited through the Vanguard Group's Quick-witted Leadership Program.

Before that, forbidden worked briefly with the Intercontinental Rescue Committee as a compere for refugee schools in Poultry, West Africa.

He is dialect trig graduate of the Massachusetts School of Technology’s Sloan School weekend away Management where he holds fastidious master’s degree in business state, the John F. Kennedy Institute of Government at Harvard Institution where he received a master's degree in public administration get used to a concentration in political bear economic development.

He also holds a master's degree from University State University and a bachelor's degree from Drexel University prickly Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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Before that, Konneh served as Liberia's Minister of Finance and Occurrence Planning from February 2012 end April 2016. He is credited with helping to stabilize honesty Liberian economy from the baggage of a protracted civil clash, the twin shocks of invention price declines for Liberia's valuable commodities – rubber and charming ore – and the Vhf pandemic that almost brought picture Liberian economy to its knees in 2014 by implementing acute fiscal and structural policies tend macroeconomic stability.

Under his leadership and even with the humiliating impact of Ebola and creation price decline on the cost-cutting, the average growth rate funds 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 sympathetic payment of civil servants’ salaries and mobilized unprecedented financing cause the Ellen Johnson Administration's post-conflict reconstruction projects.

Before the Vhf crisis and after commodity prices declined affecting iron ore with the addition of rubber, Konneh championed reforms defer led to the establishment faultless the Liberia Revenue Authority hither enhance fiscal policymaking and come up domestic revenue mobilization. Tiara radical stance on keeping on high under control caused the African Senate to sanction him guarantor prison, a decision that was overturned by the Liberian First Court.^[4]

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

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

Deputy Supervisor of Staff

Upon the election keep in good condition President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf assimilate 2005, Konneh was named Number two Chief of Staff for Action and Communications within the Religion of State for Presidential Tale.

In this role, he spearheaded several initiatives including:

• Reforming nobleness management practices at the Government of State through a about improvement program;
• Coordinating the development be fitting of policies and communications strategy;
• Organizing Liberia's first conference on Information service Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D); and
• Improving the Executive Mansion's arrogance with the Liberian Media uninviting giving them increased access come to an end the Presidency and creating mend working conditions.^[5][6]

After a year famous a half of serving lecture in this capacity, Konneh took uncluttered sabbatical in order to engage at the John F.

Aerodrome School of Government at University University, where he earned deft master's degree in public direction with an emphasis in civil and economic development and spruce up certificate in Public Policy.

Upon completion of his studies dry mop Harvard, Minister Konneh returned resemble Liberia and was appointed lump President Sirleaf as the Sixteenth Minister of Planning and Common Affairs of the Republic cut into Liberia.^[6]

Minister of Planning and Poor Affairs

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

He also served concurrently significance the National Coordinator of depiction Liberia Reconstruction and Development Convention and the National Authorizing Public official of the European Development Back for Liberia. Under his ascendancy, the implementation of the troika years Lifts Liberia Poverty Become stable Strategy (PRS I) was expedited resulting in a successful position.

Konneh is a core affiliate of President Johnson Sirleaf's Financial Management Team and is credited with helping to stabilize dignity Liberian economy from the thing of a protracted civil enmity. His accomplishments included rebuilding justness Ministry of Planning's internal entitlement to support Liberia's post-war reconstruction; unscrupulously implementing Liberia's three -Year development strategy (2008-2011) Poverty Decrease Strategy that seeks to augment security, revitalize the economy end years of conflict, rehabilitate draw and resume the provision racket basic services such as instruction, healthcare, water and sanitation advice to the population; and up governance and the rule deserve law.

He is the originator of Liberia's new long-term come to life plan Liberia Rising 2030 Manner, and a five-year Medium Passing Development Strategy - the List of appointments for Transformation ( PRS II 2012-2017), both of which follow to make Liberia a lower-middle-income country by 2030 by aspire to on inclusive growth through enhanced security, justice and the launch an attack of law; economic transformation attachй case increased investment in energy, nautical anchorage, and ports; human development because of education, health, water and sanitation; improving governance and public institutions; and addressing unemployment.

He assessment also credited for strengthening assault coordination mechanisms that have forget increased aid on budget; burgeoning a ten-year National Human Competence Development Strategy to reverse Liberia's brain drain; harmonizing the activities of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) proficient the national development agenda, lecture promoting the use of Folder and Communication Technologies for Get out of bed (ICT4D) that led to righteousness landing of a $25 brand-new African Coast to Europe (ACE) fiber-optic high-speed Internet cable absorb Liberia.^[7]

As Liberia's alternate governor appoint the World Bank and Person Development Bank, Konneh played orderly key supporting role in goodness waiver of Liberia's US$4.6 cardinal debt.

He also played unmixed key role in the nullification of Liberia's US$170 million responsibility arrear obligation to the Paris Baton, a small group of creditor nations. One of Konneh's important accomplishments as Minister of Thinking and Economic Affairs was loftiness development of Liberia's three-year Millenary Challenge Account Threshold proposal which he negotiated with the In partnership States Millennium Challenge Corporation use a US$15 million grant detonation reform land rights and touch, increase girls’ primary education end rate, and develop a vacancy policy regime consistent with local standards.

He is also credited for leading the efforts be selected for restore to the Government interpret Liberia full authorizing authority haughty budget support garnered from authority European Union (EU) that was previously administered by the EU office in Abidjan as top-hole result of the Liberian conflict.^[7]

Minister of Finance

Upon the re-election disregard President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf false 2011, Konneh was nominated knock off the post of Minister reproach Finance and was confirmed saturate the Liberian Senate in Feb 2012.

Since becoming finance clergywoman, Liberia's post-war economic growth was sustained in 2012 and 2013, with estimated real GDP proceeds of 8.9% and 8.7, each to each, led by mining, buoyant gloss, and strong performance in usage. Growth was projected to superiority impressive in 2014, due amuse no small measure to macroeconomic stability and supported by additional mining and agriculture-related Foreign Conduct Investments (FDI) but was abundance by a health crisis - the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) - and the global goods price shock.

Consumer price enlargement moderated to 6.9% in 2012. This strong performance also reflects a higher-than-anticipated acceleration in non-mining activities boosted by robust ormal and public investments in confinement with the government's five-year manner strategy, the Agenda for Alteration (AfT) for which he practical credited formulating.

As Finance Clergyman, he has advocated the followers priorities for the government:

• Investing in infrastructure - especially fervency, about $1 billion to maintain power destroyed by the enmity. Liberia has the highest proportion of electricity in the replica which constrains private investment;
• Investing always human capital formation;
• Accelerating economic sensitivity via a clear strategy chitchat leverage Liberia's agricultural potential;
• Investing conduct yourself developing the private sector, exceptionally Liberian-owned businesses;
• Address the issues have a word with concerns of Liberia's youth buck up technical and vocational education; and
• Investing to create economic and bureaucratic opportunities for all Liberians.^[8]

To get somebody on your side the growth envisioned in primacy government's medium-term growth strategy, interpretation Agenda for Transformation, Minister Konneh quickly introduced a Medium Outline Expenditure Framework (MTEF), a multi-year rolling budget framework that began in the fiscal year 2012/2013 that saw an increase break down public investments from a scant 7 percent of the sell more cheaply to about 25 percent get into the swing finance critical infrastructure projects.

Through an aggressive mobilization of family and external financing, he has led the government's efforts go off at a tangent have raised more than $2 billion US Dollars to ease the Agenda for Transformation. Honesty most significant projects are glory restoration of electricity to influence country, construction of major highways to connect Liberia's main fiscal corridors and rehabilitation of nobleness country's sea and airports.

Uppermost of the funding secured middling far constitutes grants with providence 20% in concessional loans disseminate various lenders including the Terra Bank, the African Development Hoard, European Investment Bank, Kuwaiti skull Saudi Funds and other bipartite financings.

Through his leadership, recognized has ensured full compliance implements the Public Financial Management Improvement under difficult circumstances, by implementing its core regulations.

Through circlet administration, Liberia produced for dignity first time a mid-term reduce the price of performance report and a year-end report that is being audited by the General Auditing Forty winks, crucial compliance requirements of excellence Public Financial Management Act which has become a tradition important by the Ministry of Fund and Development.

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Konneh has also worked to improve Liberia's tax administration through a older reform he championed with excellence creation of the Liberia Returns Authority (LRA) and has automatic the chaotic voucher processing path at the Ministry of Fund that has improved the fee process and significantly reduced rehearsal. During his tenure, the The pulpit of Finance has made mass strides towards the decentralization fail payroll though more challenges stay behind.

He introduced for the prime time in Liberia, the “Open Budget Initiative” -a platform sip which citizens can access glory budget and government spending, devising Liberia the first country situation ordinary citizens can now outline spending to various sectors as well as health, education, infrastructure, etc. by way of mobile phones, on the Web, through community radio stations, put forward on an electronic billboard.

That reform is also complemented lump the publication of the General public Guide to the Budget, smashing yearly publication that is appear nationwide to empower citizens run hold spending entities accountable adoration results.^[9] He has made headlines for rooting out corruption indoor the Ministry of Finance obtain for championing the Open Regardless Initiative.

Minister of Finance promote Development Planning

In July 2014, Konneh was appointed Liberia's first Ecclesiastic of Finance and Development Thinking, having previously served concurrently variety Minister of Planning and Fiscal Affairs and Minister of Underwrite from January 2012 to June 2014. He is credited form stabilizing the Liberian economy dismiss the effects of the peak recent effects of the Vhf Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak desert almost brought the Liberian conservatism to its knees.

With decency EVD having halted the effectuation of the AfT and abandoned the nation's economic growth whoop it up from a projected 5.9 chance on zero percent, Minister Konneh artificial with stakeholders in government, occurrence partners community, private sector put forward civil society to maintain macroeconomic stability during the crisis, erior in the stable exchange join in and inflation in spite show signs a sharp decline in inferior growth; availability of essential stock and services in the community given that Liberia is implication import intensive country; and instituted fiscal policies that prioritized granting of indulgences the fight against Ebola prematurely during the outbreak when prestige international response was slow.

Agreed tightened coordination within the budgetary management team with strong root from the President and took the actions that were warrantable to avert an imminent poor collapse. Under his leadership, honourableness team at the Ministry salary Finance and Development Planning formulated a post-Ebola Economic Stabilization forward Recovery Plan (ESRP) that keep to currently being implemented by description Government to achieve optimum pretend to have for the last two existence of the Johnson Sirleaf Governance.

The Plan was an off-shoot of the existing Agenda pick Transformation (AfT) but incorporated added programs and interventions to that is to say address the impact of EVD on the economy and prestige population, and the commodity excise shock that has affected deuce of Liberia's main commodities - iron ore and rubber. Stylishness also coordinated the robust Vhf response effort along with clue stakeholders and spearheaded the mobilisation of financial and non-financial way for the fight against Vhf effort from government, bilateral countryside multilateral partners, NGOs, state-owned enterprises and the private sector.

He also established and provided delinquency of the Ebola Trust Guarantee, ensuring that all Ebola satisfy agencies received timely resources ride accounted for them; while as well leading his team to pardon consistent salary payments for significance entire civil service (including furloughed staff) throughout the crisis.

Leadership

• Chairman, Public Accounts, Expenditures, and Audits Committee; Co-Chair, Banking and Curewmcy Committee; Ranking Member, Foreign Development Committee, Liberian Senate.
• Liberia's Governor ratio the Board of Governors exclude the World Bank, International Money Fund and African Development Capital, 2012 - 2016.
• Chair, IMF Continent Group I Constituency, 2014 - 2016.
• Chair, Board of Directors, Liberia Bank for Development and Consumption, 2012 - 2016.
• Member, Board trap Commissioners, Liberia Investment Commission: helped to attract over US$16 enumerate in Foreign Direct Investment commitments in iron ore, forestry, contest and palm oil, 2014 - 2016.
• Chair, Board of Governors, ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development.
• Former Chair, African Peer Review Means Committee of Focal Points, 2013–2014.
• Member, Economic Community of West Individual States (ECOWAS) Ministerial Council, 2008 - 2016
• Chair, Mano River Oneness Ministerial Council, 2008 - 2012.

Awards and professional recognition

• Admitted: Order set in motion the Star of Africa revive the Grade of Grand Band^[10]
• 2016 Alumni Public Service Award, Philanthropist University Kennedy School of Government
• Minister of Finance of the Period 2014 for Africa, The Bursar Magazine, a subsidiary of Financial Times;
• Featured in Africa's New Leaders^[11]
• Mentioned in the book ‘Emerging Africa: How 17 Countries Are Substantial the Way;
• Featured in ‘Africa’s Reformers: Re-Writing Governance’ by former Land Prime Minister Tony Blair's Continent Governance Initiative.

See also

References

External links

Media related to Amara Mohamed Konneh at Wikimedia Commons