Public sector Reform Symposium Held at The World Bank
The Haile Selassie I International Development Foundation with support from The World Bank Group, IMF Africa Society, and InterLink Publishing, held a panel discussion and an open forum on Public Sector Reform for Sustainable Development - Opportunities and Challenges of African Countries with a focus on Ethiopia, Congo, and Nigeria, at The World Bank in Washington, DC on April 5, 2004.

Mr. Michael Stevens, former Public Sector Management Specialist, World Bank Group, Dr. Mwabilu L. Ngoyi, Department of Political Science, Howard University, and the critically acclaimed historian and foreign correspondent specializing in Africa, and Author of “Haile Selassie’s War,” Mr. Anthony Mockler, served on this informative panel to an audience of World Bank staff members.

This symposium is the first of the Haile Selassie I Foundation series on poverty alleviation, sustainable development and socio-economic issues which many African nations continue to face.  The program will draw on the experiences of specialists who have been directly involved in projects and initiatives in hopes of implementing sustainable development in Africa as well as highlighting the special circumstances and challenges with which they and both multilateral and non-government organizations are faced.

Mr. Stevens viewed corruption as a primary factor impeding African nations’ economic development.  He spoke in detail of the challenges the World Bank faces in effectively implementing its programs with measurable success in Nigeria, where he spent years in executing World Bank projects.

Dr. Ngoyi, elaborated upon Mr. Stevens concerns on development in Africa by discussing the development challenges the Democratic Republic of Congo faces and the public sector reform needed in order for African nations to achieve sustainable development.

Mr. Anthony Mockler was scheduled to serve on the panel, however, due to schedule changes, he was unable to be present.  Instead, Mr. Mockler addressed the audience via a video presentation of his book, "Haile Selassie's War" and on the Late Emperor Haile Selassie as a modernizer and reformer, and His Majesty’s contribution to the economic development of his beloved nation, Ethiopia.

The audience was pleased to gain current information on the issue of poverty and sustainable development in Africa from the

prospective of specialists directly involved in improving development initiatives in Africa.

Special thanks to The World Bank Group, IMF Africa Society and InterLink Publishing for making this important event possible.

Coming soon- on-line video presentation of panelists

Haile Selassie I International Development Foundation
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