President Sirleaf Off to London to Co-Chair High-Level Panel Meeting on Post-2015 Global Development Agenda

(MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Tuesday, October 30, 2012) President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has departed the country for a three-day visit to London, United Kingdom, where she will co-chair meetings of the UN High- Level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Framework, and hold several business meetings.

President Sirleaf, along with British Prime Minister David Cameron and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, were chosen by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to co-Chair a Panel of Eminent Persons to craft a global framework to succeed the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) when they reach their target date in 2015.

In London, according to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf will chair two special meetings on Thursday, November 1: on human development; and on jobs, livelihood and targeting. Panelists will examine what has happened with the MDGs over the last 12 years; what can be done in the next three; and set the agenda for post-2015.

The three co-Chairs will hold a joint press conference at Number 10 Downing Street, the residence of Prime Minister Cameron.

In addition, the Liberian leader will host a luncheon where she and other panelists will discuss “The Creation of Political Consensus.” The day-long meeting will climax with a dinner, to be attended by all the African women Ambassadors in London and the entire membership of the High-Level Panel, all of whom will be in London for the meeting.

It can be recalled that President Sirleaf, who is the “voice of Africa” on the High-Level Panel, commenced consultations with African Heads of State during her recent visit to the United Nations in New York. Likewise, in Tokyo recently, the Liberian leader was one of five panelists discussing the post-2015 development framework, with the topic being, “Is There a Role for a Next Generation of Millennium Development Goals?”

Here in Monrovia, President Sirleaf, last Thursday, October 25th, participated in the Africa-Wide Civil Society Organizations Consultation on the Post-2015 Global Development Framework. The three-day forum brought together 50 leaders of civil society from all five regions of Africa.

To assist in her task, President Sirleaf has appointed a Secretariat. These include: the former Prime Minister of Haiti, Dr. Garry Conille, who was designated by the United Nations Development Programme; Dr. Alioune Sall, a well-known intellectual who worked on Liberia’s own “Vision 2030”; Dr. Abdoulaye Dukulé, as Head of the Secretariat; Mr. Sam Jackson and Mr. Clarence Moniba.

Meanwhile, while President Sirleaf is away from the country, the Minister of Justice, Cllr. Christiana Tah, will chair the Cabinet in consultation with Vice President Joseph N. Boakai.

President Sirleaf is expected back in the country on Friday, November 2nd.