In order to deliver effectively and efficiently to the Liberian populace, the Liberia Institute of Public Administration held its first training managers and directors capacity development Network and Acquaintance Workshop.
According to LIPA’s Deputy Director for Training and Development, Mariama Macauley, in 1972 LIPA began operation through the mandate of an act that established it, to improve government’s efficiency to deliver. Fastforward, she observed, its service deliverable to the citizens remains poor and at, all times, low as a government.
“Today marks a historic event. We are taking a new turn as we come together in the spirit of collaboration and coordination as public service employees who are responsible to ensure that our public sector has the capacity it needs to effectively conduct its business and enhance service deliberate. There is a paradigm shift in human resource management; all eyes around the world are focus on human resource development,” she said. “And therefore, learning and development—they are very, very important.”
Held under the theme, “Training Managers and Directors Capacity Development Network And Acquaintance Workshop”, Macauley said the workshop aimed at beginning networking that will collaboratively and collectively optimize talent in various government institutions. “As we prepare to implement the ARREST Agenda for inclusive development, we must also realize that the success of the agenda rests squarely with us as public servants,” she stated.
Macauley challenged all participants, especially directors and managers, saying in order for them to achieve the milestone “all of us must have the capability that will drive the much-needed change. Our citizens can no longer wait; they need action. They are demanding quality in our service delivery.”
In 1969, the need to establish the Liberia Institute for Public Administration was birthed. It was then called the Institute of Public administration (IPA), and emanatedfrom poor performance across government, due to whichservice was inefficient and ineffective.
To improve the system, the Government of Liberia (GOL), in collaboration with USAID, saw it a matter of urgency to address the following objectives: to coordinate capacity development in the public service in a very collaborative way; to strengthen public service capacity through continued learning and development; to improve service delivery to citizens through increasedproductivity; and to prepare the workforce for current and future success.
“At the end of today, we will have a very strong team that is willing to work on capacity developing program to enhance our services,” Macauley said.
The workshop, which was held at Corina Hotel, brought together government officials from a number of ministries and agencies. The first presentation was done by Macauley herself, followed by CSA’s representative and LIPA’s facilitators. Talent empowerment, regular training, cooperation, among others, were discussed in the meeting.
