Rep. Youngblood heads parliamentary network

Montserrado County Electoral District #9 Representative Munah Pelham Youngblood has been elected as chair for the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund parliamentary network’s chapter in Liberia.

Speaking at the induction ceremony last week in Monrovia, Representative Youngblood notes that the Liberian chapter would work with the World Bank and other partners, including the International Monetary Fund in researching and sharing knowledge towards capacity building for government institutions.

The ruling Coalition for Democratic Change lawmaker explains that considering challenges in the aid delivery process and limited capacity within government for drawing down approved loans and grants, the Liberia Chapter will engage the Bank and relevant governmental institutions to ensure that the flow of funds to Liberia and Africa would not be interrupted by bureaucratic bottlenecks.

“The Liberia Chapter will engage in advocacy, oversight, research as well as provide valuable information towards realization of the aspect of Liberia’s development goals under the pro-poor agenda of this regime, which relies heavily on the relationship with the bank and other donors,” she expresses.

The chapter provides a platform for parliamentarians and civil society to hold to account their own governments, as well as International Financial Institutions (IFIs), for development outcomes.

The Parliamentary Network on the World Bank & International Monetary Fund provides a platform for parliamentarians from over 140 countries to advocate for increased accountability and transparency in International Financial Institutions and multilateral development financing.

Founded in 2000, it seeks to engage lawmakers from around the globe in the common mission of addressing good governance and poverty challenges in both home countries and abroad. Directed by a twelve-member Board elected by their peers, the Parliamentary Network is an independent non-governmental organization with a secretariat in Paris, France.

The organization is open to all elected parliamentarians from World Bank member states that hold a current mandate. Parliamentary Network members represent themselves and their respective constituents, rather than their countries, parliaments or governments.

The Network – via its international secretariat, regional chapters and country chapters – reaches over to 1,000 parliamentarians in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. It strives to increase transparency and accountability in the development cooperation process by fostering the oversight role of parliaments and civil society.

The Network has a specific focus on multilateral aid and a sub-focus on the work and modus operandi of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the world’s largest multilateral funders.

-Editing by Jonathan Browne