President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has launched a National Consultancy Policy Guideline produced by the Civil Service Agency (CSA).The aim of the guidelines is to manage consultancies across Government.
Speaking at the launch of the framework document on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, the President said it is a worthy cause in his government’s drive to sanitize the process of good governance system.
According to him, the launch of the policy framework and its scrupulous development mark a vital accomplishment of his government’s 100 days deliverables including the ongoing mission by his administration to optimize the utilization of consultancy services across government entities.
He told the audience that the guidelines not only alien with internationally accepted benchmark to ensure the effectiveness and prudent utilization of resources but it also presents useful ammunition in the government fight against waste and patronage.
Moreover, he emphasized that the document will also maximize the quality of professional services thereby promising a brighter future for government operations.
The Liberian leader stressed that the policy instrument empowers the CSA in its size of overseeing the procurement of the services of independent consultants and consultancy firms.
Among other things, the Chief Executive stated that the goal of the policy is to establish a standardized procurement and benchmark for consultancy implementation across all entities of government.
“It primarily focuses on efficient management, maximize value for money leading to practices observed in leading economies worldwide,” he noted.
The policy, he pointed out also reflects his government’s commitment to accountability and result oriented government in line with the “ARREST” Agenda.
For his part, the Director General of the Civil Service Agency, Josiah Joekai said his leadership has embarked on such proactive course of action to address the systemic corruption issue and fortify the government’s institutional capacity, evidenced by the crafting of comprehensive policy guidelines to manage consultancies across the Central Government effectively.
Director Joekai narrated that the policy guidelines were meticulously developed to ensure value for money and stringent performance of accountability for consultants hired.
Joekai told the gathering that the CSA has proposed allocating a US$2 million cap on consultancy expenditures in the 2024 fiscal year.
He stressed that instituting fiscal discipline and accountability mechanism, the government will safeguard public resources and pave the way for genuine progress and development initiatives to flourish.
