World Bank Country Manager, Georgia Wallen Remarks: Launch of the Procurement Internship Program University of Liberia, 18 November 2024

World Bank Country Manager, Georgia Wallen
Remarks: Launch of the Procurement Internship Program
University of Liberia, 18 November 2024

Honorable Acting President; Government Officials; Cabinet Members of the University of Liberia; Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.
We are delighted to join you today for the launch of the University of Liberia Procurement Internship Program, a new collaboration between the World Bank and University of Liberia. Building on our years of fruitful partnership, the internship program is a new platform to further the build the capacity of procurement practitioners in Liberia.
Every investment in education, learning, and training is an investment in the future – both for individuals and for Liberia. The Procurement Internship program is about bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world, practical public procurement implementation – and “know how.” It will provide practical experience to Masters degree-level students studying procurement.
During the internship, interns will be attached to a World Bank project for a period of 12 months. They will gain firsthand experience with the World Bank’s procurement policies and implementation procedures. This “on-the-job training” will enhance practical knowledge and foster professional growth, allowing interns to gain experience in areas such as:
*                     procurement planning,
*                     preparation of biding documents and Request for Proposals,
*                     evaluations of bids and proposals,
*                     contract negotiations and contract drafting, etc.

Interns will also be able to interact with other professionals, technicians, and civil servants thereby helping students build valuable networks to inspire and inform them as they pursue their career goals.
We are confident that the internship program will contribute to building capacity in Liberia by expanding the pool of skilled professionals ready to help tackle the nation’s development challenges.
The ultimate goal is to equip students with the skills needed to contribute meaningfully to project implementation in Liberia and to pursue their career ambitions, including possibly serving in the public service.
As requested, it is my pleasure to officially launch the UL Procurement Internship Program! I would like to thank colleagues in the University of Liberia and the World Bank team who worked hard to bring this Internship program from a dream to a reality. We wish much success to the inaugural cohort of interns – may you achieve great outcomes and resounding success!

World Bank Country Manager, Georgia Wallen
Remarks: Training Workshop on Gender-Informed and Participatory Budgeting
Lutheran Compound on 13th Street, 18 November 2024

Thank you for the opportunity to join today’s training workshop on Gender-Informed and Participatory Budgeting for Gender & Social Inclusion Units at all Governments Ministries, Agencies and Commissions (MACs). This week’s training is an important step in achieving governance that serves the needs and interests of the people of Liberia – particularly women and girls.
Inclusion for all is at the heart of the WBG mission to end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity on a livable planet – including through our special focus on women and youth. We recognize the central role of women’s empowerment is in the GoL’s new ARREST agenda. Tackling barriers to full inclusion — much as gender-based violence, limited access to health services, and restricted opportunities for education, economic participation — requires action across a range of fronts.
This includes support for well-informed policy action and enhanced resource allocation — which brings us to this week’s training.
As you begin the workshop, I’d like to highlight three key elements as background. In particular, I’d like to highlight Vision, collaboration, and learning — the main motivation of this week’s training.
*                     First, vision — and the necessity of strategic investment: In the context of a tight fiscal environment, it is crucial for Liberia to prioritize strategic investments in its ambitious ARREST agenda designed to advance the empowerment of women and girls. These investments are key to securing a better today and a more prosperous tomorrow for Liberia’s women and girls. Their success is Liberia’s success! Today’s training on Gender Responsive and Participatory Budgeting is an important step in this direction, and a pivotal component of the WB financed project (LWEP).
*                     Second, the importance of GOL Collaboration: Gender-Responsive Planning and Budgeting (GRPB) is vital for sustaining and expanding critical investments in the socioeconomic empowerment of women and girls, ensuring these efforts reach and benefit women and girls in need. Effectiveness will depend on strong GOL leadership and coordination on this agenda. In this regard, we are delighted to see the collaboration between the Ministry of Gender and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning’s budget departmental.
*                     Last, the value of learning from Global Experience: Evidence from South Africa, India, Uganda, and Zimbabwe shows that GRPB is a powerful tool for changing budgetary allocations and execution modalities in line with national and sub-national gender equality objectives. In Zimbabwe, for example, GRPB has led to increased budgetary allocations for tackling child sexual abuse and domestic violence, as well as a lowering of VAT on sanitary pads. In other countries, such as India, it has opened up participatory spaces for poor and vulnerable women in certain provinces to become directly involved in budget formulation. With your hard work, future trainings around the world will be able to cite Liberia’s experience and the impact on women and girls across the country!

Thank you again for the opportunity to join in launching the GRPB training. The WB is very pleased to be supporting these efforts through the Liberia Women Empowerment Project. Congratulations to the organizers. We are confident that with the strong leadership of the Ministries of Gender and Finance ministries and wider GOL coordination, this initiative bearing dividends for many years to come.

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