Liberia

May 17

Continuing Our Legacy in Liberia

Emerging Public Leaders’ inaugural program in Liberia, the President’s Young Professionals Program (PYPP), supported its 10th cohort this year. The recruitment process focused on ensuring that the PYPs selected represent a diversity of lived experiences including individuals living with disabilities. The introduction of a new class meant it was also time to celebrate 63 Fellows from Classes VII, VIII, and IX, whose graduations had been delayed by the pandemics. PYPP partner the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), former officials from the Government of Liberia, and EPL interim Executive Director Caren Wakoli all attended the graduation ceremony.

Leaving an indelible legacy as PYPP Founder and Emerging Public Leaders Board Co-chair, Her Excellency President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will transition to emeritus board member. In December, she traveled to Washington, D.C., for the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, where she delivered a keynote address on accelerating public service in Africa at a side-event hosted by the Center for Global Development. We are immensely grateful for President Sirleaf’s work to establish a foundation for expanding Emerging Public Leaders work to countries across the continent.

As we head into an election year in Liberia in 2023, it is a reminder that politicians may make many promises in their campaigns, but it is civil servants who ensure those promises can become a reality. No matter who is elected, Liberia’s Fellows will continue to make an impact in government by delivering services to citizens throughout the country, and, in turn, building citizen trust in government.

Introducing Ciata Stevens d’Almeida

Since April 2022, Liberia’s program has operated under the strong leadership of Executive Director Ciata Stevens d’Almeida. Ciata was a graduate of PYPP’s Class III, where she was assigned to the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs. Previously, she has served in roles at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Liberia to the United Nations and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia. Ciata has expanded the PYPP team’s staff allowing it to widen and deepen its reach across Liberia.

Fellows and Alumni

Fellows & Alumni

Patricia S. Tarplah

Fellow

Patricia S. Tarplah is a PYPP Class X Fellow currently working as a Administrative Assistant in the Office of the Chairman of the National Investment Commission. Before joining the Office of the Chairman, she was assigned in the Investment Promotion Department, where she contributed to the LIFT Project, a $40 million World Bank portfolio geared towards providing a line of credit for Small and Medium Enterprises, as well as building their capacity to access markets over the next five years. In the Chairman’s office, Patricia attends high-level conferences and meetings, serving as rapporteur, and further advises the Chairman on making key decisions on behalf of the National Investment Commission.

Solomon K. Jarpah, Jr.

Fellow

Solomon K. Jarpah, Jr. is a PYPP Class X Fellow currently placed at the National Public Health Institute of Liberia, where he serves as Technical Assistant to the Deputy Director General for Technical Services as well as an Event-based Surveillance Analyst. As Technical Assistant, he provides regular technical updates from the five divisions in the Department of Technical Services. As an Event-based Surveillance Analyst, he supports the Cross-Border Surveillance Enhancement Project, where he works with bordering communities to enhance surveillance activities. He also provides weekly support to the Disease Lead to update Liberia’s epi-bulletin, showcasing the number of cases detected as well as the government’s intervention. Additionally, Solomon conducts daily, weekly and monthly scans on Liberia’s digital surveillance platform to detect diseases earlier to enable prompt response.

Kortee Baysah

Alumni

Kortee Baysah (Class VI) was promoted as Border Patrol Officer in the Customs Department in the Customs Risk Intelligence Management and Compliance Section at the Liberia Revenue Authority. In his new role as Border Patrol Officer, he conducts risk analysis on all shipments imported into the country through the Freeport of Monrovia and other major ports of entry in Liberia. His role is critical to national development and security as he is responsible for monitoring inconsistencies in customs declarations at various ports of entry in Liberia, helping to determine which shipments warrant further inspection.

Dr. Joseph Lavela Saysay & Mr. J. Alben Greaves

Alumni

Dr. Joseph Lavela Saysay (Class I) and Mr. J. Alben Greaves (Class III) had a mini PYPP reunion on the sidelines of the Multi-Country Workshop to Promote the Ratification and Implementation of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade In Tobacco Products In the WHO African Region in Dakar, Senegal. Joseph is a Project Officer at the United Nations, while Alben heads the Child Justice Division at the Ministry of Justice in Liberia.

Our Impact In Liberia

Fellows throughout the life of PYPP (55% male, 45% female)

of those Fellows stayed working in public service

ministries and agencies served

PYPP as an organization outperformed other institutions it was benchmarked against in the areas of organizational effectiveness, leadership and governance, structures and system, human resources, program management, planning, M&E and knowledge management.

of supervisors note Fellow performance is higher than other staff

More than 95% of Fellows have experienced increased know-how to become effective public sector leaders (compared to 76% for civil service employees and 78% for non-Fellows).

Partners and Funders

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