Liberian Officials Look to Vinson Institute for Legislative Training
Liberian legislators now have a better understanding of accountability and transparency in public budgeting and finance through a special Vinson Institute training program. An eight-member delegation of legislators, accompanied by a member of the Liberia Institute of Public Administration (LIPA), spent the week of November 9 in Atlanta exploring the budgeting process with state officials and Vinson Institute faculty.
The visit is the second in a partnership between the Vinson Institute and the Liberian government that began in 2007 with the goal of improving Liberia's public sector. The project is supported by the World Bank. Liberia is emerging from a 14-year civil war that has seriously damaged its infrastructure, government, and economy.
After an introduction to the roles of national, state, and local governments in this country, the Liberian delegation received first-hand insights and information about how accountability can be structured through a professional legislature, the role of the media in promoting transparency and accountability, open government and the executive and legislative branches, the role of internal and external auditing, revenue administration, providing access to public financial records, and using technology to enhance financial decisionmaking. The group also had the opportunity to share legislative experiences in an informal discussion with Rep. Doug McKillip of Athens.
The Vinson Institute's reputation as a provider of high-quality governmental training has allowed it to extend its reach beyond Georgia to many nations in transition through its International Center. "We are committed to working with Liberian officials as they work to integrate public administration best practices into their government today and in the future," said Steve Wrigley, Institute director.
