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President Johnson Sirleaf and Tony Blair meet to discuss progress of AGI’s Liberia programme

The President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf met with Tony Blair, Founder and Patron of the Africa Governance Initiative (AGI) today as part of her two-day visit to the UK, to discuss the ongoing work of AGI’s capacity development programme with the Ministry of State in Liberia.

President Johnson Sirleaf said, “We have been working with Tony Blair and the charity that he founded, the Africa Governance Initiative, since 2009. The partnership between the AGI team and my staff in the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs has been invaluable. They have made a real difference, providing practical tools and advice to help my office work more effectively.

A stronger and more effective centre of government will lead to a stronger and more effective government overall – that is what AGI is supporting.”

Tony Blair said, “President Johnson Sirleaf is one of Africa’s leading reformers, and it is a real privilege to work with her. Liberia today is stable and growing. Her government are committed to effective governance, putting in place the skills, systems and structures that will enable them to deliver the public services the Liberian people have a right to expect. I am very pleased that we’re able to play a part in the delivery of that programme.”

AGI works with the President and her government by providing practical advice and support to her Ministry of State, helping to put in place critical capacities such as prioritisation, planning and performance management that will enable the government to bridge the “implementation gap”. A team of dedicated public and private sector AGI experts work shoulder to shoulder with government counterparts, helping them implement the President’s ambitious poverty reduction programme “Lift Liberia”. The AGI programme has been active in Monrovia since August 2009. As part of this, Tony Blair provides  pro bono strategic advice to President Johnson Sirleaf, staying in touch with the President on a regular basis. 

The Liberian President has been in London to participate in a series of events including the UK-Liberia Investment Forum and the GAVI Alliance Pledging Conference on Immunization yesterday, where $4.34 billion was pledged to immunise children in some of the poorest countries in the world like Liberia.