World Bank Country Manager congratulates UL Gradates

World Bank Country Manager Larisa Leshchenko has congratulated all honor graduates of the various academic programs at the University of Liberia who have distinguished themselves by exceptional academic performance, thus enabling them to participate in the symposium.

Speaking on Tuesday, 12 December at the Third Research Symposium for the 98th commencement activities Honor Program Day at the University of Liberia Fendall Campus, Madam Leshchenko said the theme of this year’s symposium “Research the Gateway to Finding Solutions to Critical National and Global Issues” clearly lays out the foundation in arriving solutions to critical problems underpinning growth and development of the societies.

“The World Bank is a development institution that works with countries around the world with the aim of reducing poverty and boosting shared growth and prosperity,” she says.

She says the concept of sustainable development requires balancing economic, societal and environmental considerations in the pursuit of development and an improved quality of life. She also says improving the quality of basic research; reorienting existing research programs to address sustainable development; developing public awareness and understanding; and providing training for all sectors of society, mainly public and civil are the four essential tools for achieving sustainable development.

The World Bank official notes that according to UNESCO (2000) report, the way each nation, cultural group and individual views sustainable development will depend on its own values. She adds that in many European nations, universities and technical colleges train students of science, economics and business management in skills that help to build more sustainable societies.

Programs such as Peace Research, Human Right Research, Environmental Research and “Youth Entrepreneur” schemes are carried out in many academic institutions, she says, adding that such initiatives help students and lecturers to gain understanding of the inter-linkages needed for sustainable development.

She notes that the emphasis has been on research that will provide life and occupational skills that will enhance the potentials of individual, reinforcing self-sufficiency and improving quality of life.

According to her, the World Bank’s Policy on Access to Information has enabled the organization to become a global leader in transparency and has made a groundbreaking change in how the World Bank makes information available to the public.

“Now the public has access to more information than ever,” she says, and continues that underlying the policy is the principle that the World Bank namely the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Development Association will disclose any information in its possession that is not on its list of exceptions.

The exceptions includes Personal Information, Communications of Governors and Executive Directors’ Offices, Ethics Committee, Attorney-Client Privilege, Security and Safety, Information Restricted Under Separate Disclosure Regimes and Other Investigative Information, Information Provided by Member Countries or Third Parties in Confidence, Corporate Administrative Matters, Deliberative Information, Financial Information, Forecasts, Analysis, Transactions, Banking and Billing.

She strongly urges students and faculty of the University of Liberia to regularly visit the Bank’s website to gain access to valuable information, and pledge to continue the professional relationship.