Monrovia, Liberia — The Resident Representative of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to Liberia, Mr. Joel Chiedu Okwuokei, today presented a broad range of specialized training and capacity building opportunities to the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA).
The initiative represents a significant step toward strengthening institutional performance and advancing Liberia’s domestic resource mobilization agenda.
Mr. Okwuokei made the disclosure during a meeting with Commissioner General James Dorbor Jallah and members of the Authority’s senior management team at the LRA headquarters in Paynesville.
The IMF Resident Representative formally introduced the Keynes Lab, a newly established high-tech training facility at the IMF office in Liberia, and encouraged LRA officials and staff to take full advantage of the learning opportunities available.
The Keynes Lab features modern IT infrastructure, high-speed internet connectivity, ergonomic workstations, and advanced econometric software designed to support rigorous policy-oriented and technical training.
According to Mr. Okwuokei, enhancing institutional capacity is essential to meeting evolving global standards in revenue administration and macroeconomic management. He emphasized that the LRA plays a critical role in Liberia’s national development trajectory and that sustained professional development is fundamental to improving operational efficiency and strategic impact.
The training programs cover a broad spectrum of macro-fiscal and policy-relevant disciplines, including macroeconomics, fiscal policy, monetary policy, exchange rate policy, public finance management, financial sector policies, macro-criticality of climate change, inclusive growth, and digital transformation. These thematic areas are directly aligned with strengthening revenue performance, policy analysis, and evidence-based decision-making within the LRA.
Commissioner General Jallah welcomed the initiative, describing it as a transformative opportunity for the Authority. He expressed gratitude to the IMF for extending access to the training programs, noting that the initiative will significantly enhance the LRA’s institutional capacity and contribute to Liberia’s Domestic Resource Mobilization strategy.
“This is a very significant opportunity for the LRA,” Commissioner General Jallah stated. “We have consistently invested in capacity building to improve performance and service delivery, and we will take full advantage of this offer. We encourage our staff to expand their knowledge and strengthen their professional competencies.”
The Commissioner General further urged heads of departments and units, as well as the Human Resource Management Division, to coordinate effectively to ensure that staff fully utilize the training opportunities without disrupting core operations. He emphasized the importance of structured participation schedules that safeguard continuity in daily assignments and sustain the Authority’s revenue collection performance while staff members engage in professional development.
He also observed that the availability of in-country training through the IMF will substantially reduce associated costs while enabling staff to pursue sustained learning over time with minimal operational disruption. Savings realized from reduced training expenses, he noted, can be redirected to other priority areas within the Authority’s operations. The expanded collaboration between the IMF and the LRA reflects a shared commitment to building resilient public institutions capable of driving fiscal sustainability and national development in Liberia.
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