Amara Konneh

About Amara Konneh

I am a globally-minded regional integration (RI) and partnership advisor for the World Bank Group with over 20 years of experience providing oversight and support to advance developmental and humanitarian initiatives in African countries to assist in the continent’s recovery efforts from the COVID-19 crisis and to advance the RI agenda on the continent. At the World Bank Group, provide expert advice and manage relationships with Regional Economic Commissions, supporting programs that leverage intra-African trade to develop the private sector, build resilience, and help alleviate poverty. Prior to this engagement, I served as Liberia’s minister of finance and planning, working collaboratively with colleagues, the private sector, civil society and international partners to rebuild the country following nearly 2 decades of wars and mismanagement. Together, the programs, strategies, and initiatives that we implemented served to build resilience by enhancing security, restoring the economy and credit worthiness, restoring basic services, and strengthening governance in the country. I am dedicated to delivering further development and humanitarian support, bolstering emerging markets, and creating peace and economic stability in African countries. I have a Master of Public Administration and an advanced certificate in Public Policy Management from Harvard University and a Master of Management from Penn State.

Experience

1. Advisor, Partnerships and Regional Integration

   The World Bank Group

   Aug 2019 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   Regional Integration and Partnership Advisor to the Africa Region’s Vice Presidency, World Bank Group, Washington, DC, 2019–presentAfrican Development, Regional Trade, and Economic Development: Provide expert advice on partnerships and technical assistance related to regional economic integration, supporting relationships and programs that leverage intra-African trade to develop the private sector through trade and market integration, connectivity, develop human capital and create jobs, build resilience, and alleviate poverty.Partner Relationship Management and International Development: Manage partnerships with the Africa Union Commission and its regional economic commissions (RECs) to further the implementation of the Bank’s integration strategy, focusing on impacts in trade and market integration and infrastructure support.African Affairs, Trade Agreements, and Compliance Management: Coordinate the Bank’s relationship with the secretariat of the newly established African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA), monitoring progress through dialogue and supporting the secretariat to ensure compliance with the trade agreement by member states.Historical Research, Consultations, and Stakeholder Engagement: Performed extensive inventory to understand Bank’s historical interactions with RECs. Using this data, arranged and held consultations with each REC to strengthen engagement and ensure effective use of about $1.2B in grant resources to projects that are implemented directly by RECs.

Education

• Penn State University

  Master of Science - MS

• Drexel University

  Bachelor’s Degree, Information Technology

  1996 — 1999

• Harvard Kennedy School

  Master’s Degree, Public Administration

  2007 — 2008

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  Master of Business Administration - MBA, Business Administration and Management, General

• Penn State University

  Master's degree, Management in Management and Organizational Leadership

  2000 — 2002