Liberia Governance and Economic Management Assistance Program

Projects Overview • Projects Organized by Practice Area • Projects Organized by Region/Country

Liberia Governance and Economic Management Assistance Program (GEMAP)
Client: USAID and the Government of Liberia
Year Completed: ongoing

The Liberia Governance and Economic Management Assistance Program (GEMAP) is a partnership between the Government of Liberia and the international community to promote accountability, responsibility and transparency in fiscal and financial management so that Liberia's resources will be used in the interests of its citizens. This ground breaking project, the majority of which is funded by USAID and is implemented by IBI, is emerging as a model for improving governance in post-conflict situations.

Key elements included:

  • Building skills and professionalism through intensive, on-the-job training and tailored courses
  • Embedding senior advisors in government to assist senior leadership in rebuilding financial management systems
  • Ensuring top level commitment and support, both political and among international partners
  • Assessing organizational efficiency, policies, procedures, laws, and regulations
  • Identifying and instituting controls in operations
  • Using information technology to streamline processes and to ensure maximum transparency

IBI began this project April 2006, providing technical assistance to the Department of the Budget, Ministry of Lands, Mines, and Energy, and the General Services Agency. In October 2008, USAID expanded the IBI contract to include the provision of technical assistance to four state-owned-enterprises: Liberia Petroleum Refining Company, National Port Authority, Roberts International Airport, and Forestry Development Authority. In 2009, IBI began providing consulting services to the Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs, Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Finance and the Monrovia City Corporation.

Some of the project’s key achievements are listed below:

Budget

  • National Budget submitted to the Office of the President, on time, three years in a row
  • Budget allocation times decreased from several weeks to 2-3 days
  • Processes instituted to link allocations to appropriations, diminishing improper influence on allocation decisions
  • Public process established where ministries and agencies justify their budget requests based on the delivery of goods and services to the people
  • National Budget preparation process fully automated, cutting budget consolidation time from weeks to a few days, enabling fast, accurate analyses to inform allocation decisions

Mining Sector

  • All mineral development and exploration agreements signed under the National Transitional Government of Liberia were reviewed according to international standards
  • The $1.3 billion Arcelor Mittal agreement was successfully renegotiated in line with industry standards
  • Due diligence applied to the $1.4 billion Western Cluster tender was instrumental in initiating a re-bid
  • Amendments to harmonize Minerals Act and the Petroleum Act with the Public Procurement and Concessions Act will create a consistent and effective legal framework to manage concessions
  • $2.6 billion Bong Mines concession successfully negotiated assisted by improved bid process
  • Mining Cadastre Information Management System (MCIMS) will make license granting and management processes more efficient and transparent through automation, avoid ownership conflicts, track payments, and enable effective monitoring of exploration and mining contracts
  • Assessment of the economic viability of the $2-$3 billion Wologisi iron ore deposit provides valuable information to attract qualified bidders

Service Delivery

  • GSA completed a detailed inventory of all government-owned vehicles and generators, a major step towards building an automated fixed asset management and tracking system
  • GSA produced and analyzed government vehicle fleet and fuel usage data, identifying potential savings of over $8 million in the FY 2008-09 National Budget. A proposal for the implementation government-owned fuel stations was submitted to the Office of the President, identifying an additional $12 million in savings if implemented

State-Owned Corporations

  • Instituted internal controls
  • Developed financial operations policies, procedures and manuals
  • Introduced regular and detailed financial reporting
  • Established automated accounting systems
  • Conducted internal audit training and developed internal audit manuals for an effective internal audit function
  • Conducted process mapping training, enabling managers to map key business processes to identify risks and institute controls
  • Provided HR and leadership training
  • Developed charters, by-laws, and board mentoring for SOE Boards to support the government’s SOE reform initiative

Development Corridors

As part of the GEMAP project, IBI is conducting a study for the Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs (MPEA) to identify development corridors. This study contributes to the National Economic Growth Strategy spanning the years 2012 to 2027 to rationalize and optimize public investment, promote private investment and prioritize development interventions by sector and geography.

The study will identify growth corridors where agriculture, forestry, mining, energy production and infrastructure construction can best flourish. The approach will pair international and Liberian professionals in each relevant specialty to build the capacity needed to deepen the spatial analysis and consultative process as the National Economic Growth Strategy evolves.

IT Policy

IBI is providing technical advice and capacity building assistance to the Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs in order to improve the efficient and effective use of IT across ministries to further the development and the achievement of the government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy and to reflect best practices for government use of IT. 

This work encompass advice and assistance related to:

  • Introducing best practices appropriate to the government related to the management and operations of IT products and services.
  • Establishing an organizational structure across ministries to address the efficient and effective use of IT, including the role of the government’s Governing Board for IT Policy. 
  • Establishing key cross-ministerial processes, including timing, frequency, expected results, and responsible personnel.
  • Assisting the GOL to set priorities for cross-ministerial decisions related to IT usage, including:
    • Basic enterprise architecture for the government, focusing on a phased and practical approach.
    • Scalable and efficient use of telecommunications in various technical approaches, including voice and data services and wired and wireless services. 
    • Plans and progress towards establishing nationwide access to Internet services and access to the international Internet backbone through means other than satellite. 
    • Planning for, establishing, and setting up the operations of the government’s Universal Access Fund for telecommunications services in accordance with best international practices.
    • Key procurement procedures for IT related services and products, including sample documents (e.g., requests for information, proposals, expressions of interest, and for public notices) and processes. 
    • Key cross-ministerial IT related services such as e-security, electronic mail, web site development and maintenance (using to the extent possible, content management systems designed for ease of use by non-technical users) and other priority areas that would be appropriate for a government chief information officer function.
    • Defining key areas for interoperability of data systems and data bases across ministries, including responsibilities for key data elements by ministry and coordination across ministries. 
  • A cross-cutting government approach to e-services to businesses and citizens and the use of IT to improve transparency and governance.  This advice will be consistent with the government’s IT Policy (once ratified).