Monrovia – Mr. Alexander B. Yonly Sr., Director General of the Liberia Institute for Public Administration (LIPA), the premiere autonomous public service agency mandated by Legislative enactment to support capacity development in the public sector through training and research, has disclosed that his entity has been able to decentralize some of its services to other parts of Liberia.
“As we speak now, LIPA is presently in Grand Bassa, Margibi and plans are on to extend to Ganta, Nimba County,” Mr. Yonly disclosed.
Addressing the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism’s(MICAT) regular press briefing last Thursday, the LIPA boss explained that it is very important for the institute to create regional hubs in all 15 counties of Liberia to assist the central office.
The LIPA boss said the institution has partnered with the Swedish Institute and the Carter Center to introduce two new courses – Access to the Rule of Law and Access to Information to its curriculum.
Mr. Yonly noted that LIPA has a lot of newer programs, “like the Dr. Augustus Metro Series launched recently to help administrators in various ways.”
The series, he says will encourage transparency as well as increase public understanding on how government functions.
Mr. Yonly said, LIPA’s expectation is that the inception of these new programs will help to decrease the perception of misinformation in the society. Adding that LIPA will continue to be professional in all of its undertakings. “We encourage government agencies and experts in different professions to share their thoughts on this platform.”
The LIPA boss is meanwhile calling on government, the private section and international NGOs for more support, stressing that the institution is challenged when it comes to logistical needs particularly.
Said Yonly: “We have inadequate logistics for newly-built state-of-the-art building and eyeing plans to upgrade technology. “Public Administration is the action part of government, the means by which the goals of gov’t are met,” he said.
The LIPA boss is meanwhile calling on the National Legislature to aid the institution in the process of legislating a law to allow comprehensive training programs for all civil servants, which will enable them to be on par with others around the world. “The legislation of this program will allow all citizens wanting to serve in the public sector to have certificates in administrative practices.” He stressed
LIPA is Liberia’s premier autonomous public service agency mandated by the Legislative enactment to support capacity development in the public sector through training, research, and consultancy services. With huge demand for capacity building that extends beyond the public sector, the Institute has adopted a multi-dimensional approach by responding to the needs of the private sector and civil society. The Institute continues to support the Agenda for Transformation (AfT) through its regular training programs, conducting research and providing management and administrative advisory services to improve organizational performance.