LIMPAC Ends 2018 High, Certificates 57 civil servants at the End of 3rd Cycle of its Capacity Building Program
The Liberia Macroeconomic Policy Analysis Center (LIMPAC) at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning concluded its third cycle and year-end exercise on Wednesday, December 19, 2018. During the program, about fifty –seven (57) civil servants of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) and the Ministry of Information Culture and Tourism (MICAT) were certificated for successful completing a four weeks training course in. Basic MS Word, Basic MS Excel, Advance MS Excel as well as Basic Power point presentation skills.
Speaking during the occasion held Wednesday, December 19, 2018, on the 2nd Floor Conference Room of the MFDP, Assistant Minister of Administration, Hon, Patience Kollie Lawson lauded Liberia Macro Policy Analysis Center (LIMPAC) team for imparting knowledge into civil servants which she lamented was critical to building capable institutions in charge of implementing the Government of Liberia Pro-Poor Agenda. She congratulated the staffs for making the extra sacrifice in finding time to attend classes while at the same time performing their respective duties. Minister Lawson also thanked the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) for their support to LIMPAC and the capacity building program.
‘’ Staff are now equipped with computer knowledge today through the capacity-building of LIMPAC, so do not relent to practice and use the skills which you acquired’’ she added. Meanwhile, the Executive Director of LIMPAC, Del-Francis Wreh said the main goal of Liberian Macroeconomic Policy Analysis Center’s Capacity Building Project is to improve the capacity of government employees in data analysis to support macroeconomic policy formulation, analysis, and strengthen the overall management’s process of government.
According to him, the third cycle is very historical today because it coincides with the festive season ‘’ thanks for the sacrifices you made in attending classes and congratulation on the knowledge and skills you have acquired, and please meaningfully used what you have learned to improve your job and help other in our various offices’’, the LIMPAC Executive Director added.
Reporting on the performance of the program for 2018 which totally free of tuition and fees, the LIMPAC boss mentioned that since the commencement of training in August 2018, about 378 civil servants enrolled and represented staff from Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, the Liberia Revenue Authority, Ministry of Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism, the Legislative Budget Office (LBO), and the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo- Information Services (LISGIS). About 45% of the total enrollment or 172 civil servants or 45% successfully completed and received various certificates of achievement in Basic MS-Word, Excel, Advanced Excel, Stata Statistical Software, & Microsoft PowerPoint. Female staff accounted for Forty percent (40%) of the successful candidates, while male accounted for 60%.
With this statistics, the LIMPAC encouraged the dropouts and future candidates to take the training seriously by ensuring full attendance and completion of assignment and exams to successfully earn a certificate. He also congratulated the female graduates and encouraged more female candidates to take full advantage of the training to narrow the gender gap.
Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Mr. Esmond C. Wolue of the Ministry of Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) representing staff outside of the MFDP, thank LIMPAC and Minister Tweah for magnanimously opening the training to staff outside MFDP including staff from MICAT where he works. He encouraged his colleagues to skills acquired wisely in their daily works and pleaded with LIMPAC and MFDP to extend the training to most institutions outside the MFDP. Mr. Esmond C. Wolue completed his training in data analysis using Microsoft Excel and was awarded his certificated of achievement.
LIMPAC is a specialized unit within the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. The Center has responsibility for policy analysis, research and training of public officials in macroeconomic related issues in Liberia. The Center, which is funded by the Government of Liberia and the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) conducts policy researches and provide advisory services to the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning in addition to implementing capacity building training activities.
Established in 1991, the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF’s) mission is to build sustainable human and institutional capacity for sustainable growth, poverty reduction and economic transformation in Africa. The ultimate goal is to improve the lives and prospects of people throughout the African Continent. ACBF supports capacity development in Africa through grants, knowledge sharing and technical assistance to countries and regional and sub-regional organizations. ACBF’s approach to capacity development focuses on addressing capacity needs and gaps as well as on stakeholder ownership of interventions, project and program sustainability and synergy of interventions with other development funding institutions.