Liberia Government (Monrovia)
8 October 2008
New York — An impressive array of Foundations have met in New York to discuss programs being undertaken by the respective Foundations in Liberia. During the meeting, chaired by Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, discussion focused on approaches through which the Foundations can scale up their activities for the effective implementation of programs in Liberia.
An Executive Mansion release says President Johnson Sirleaf told the Foundation heads of the need to harmonize and integrate their operations around targeted objectives in line with Government's Poverty Reduction Strategy, otherwise known as the 'Lift Liberia' initiative. The President said it was the Government's desire to follow through on the country's development pillars which have been developed, expressing the hope that Foundations and the private sector would continue to work with Government in tackling the critical areas of the nation's development agenda. Liberia, the President said, is at a critical stage. She cautioned that the next two years will be critical in meeting some of the basic needs of the people.
Former United States President Bill Clinton, who participated in the meeting, spoke of the need for a comprehensive long-term engagement with Liberia. There is a future, he said in developing the agriculture and energy sectors of the country, adding, "It's worth investing in Liberia based on the policies of the President. What they want to do is to invest rapidly and build a rapid economy."
The Clinton Global Initiative is supporting the heath sector of the country, with an announcement by President Clinton last August in Monrovia of a new malaria initiative to combat the fight against malaria.
Also speaking at the gathering, Billionaire George Soros of the Open Society Institute (OSI) acknowledged that progress is being made in Liberia but much needs to be done to speed up initiatives now underway. He cautioned that time is very pressing, adding, 'We are running against time.' Getting the economy growing, Mr. Soros said, is vital. "Unless we create an economy that emphasizes employment, we run the risk of running into trouble," he cautioned.
Billionaire Bob Johnson of the RLJ Companies & Liberia Enterprises Development Fund also addressed the gathering. He renewed his group's commitment to the promotion of development in Liberia. Other Foundations at the New York meeting also included the Scott Family, McCall MacBain, Arcelor Mittal, Belinda Stronach, Nike, and the Carter Center foundations, among others. The organizations were among 30 Foundations attending the recent New York meeting on Liberia.
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