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Please introduce yourself.
Mrs. Alice Williams (AW): I am Alice E. Williams, presently Assistant Minister for External Resources and Debt Management at the Ministry of Finance and Development in Liberia. I have decades of professional experience working with public sector development, accountancy, budget analysis, development planning, donor coordination, planning and management with the Government of Liberia and international partners. Earlier professional roles include Director for Aid Management and Coordination Unit, Director for Human Development, and Budget Examiner. I have successfully navigated complex policies/financial landscapes, developed sustainable debt management strategies, and fostered positive relationships with international partners.
What does it mean to be an Africa Center alumnus?
AW: Being an Africa Center Alumna gives me access to a platform of knowledge for research, academic programs, and the exchange of ideas with the aim of enhancing and strengthening the effectiveness and accountability of institutions of Africa policy. It serves as an opportunity for peer-to-peer learning in an effective and efficient manner.
Did you make any special connections during the MSRA program in Togo that you wouldn’t have otherwise made?
AW: Yes, during my short stay at the Lome, Togo program, I made connections with a lot of distinguished Army Generals, professional facilitators, panelists and other resource support staff. They include Colonel (ret.) Jerome Bouadi, Dr. Willene A. Johnson, Dr. Joel Amegboh, other facilitators and participants from Nigeria, Ghana, Mali, among others. My team selected me to serve as the president during our group work. The interactions were rewarding and served as an eye opener and impetus for my professional development journey.
Are you still in contact with alumni from your program?
AW: Yes, I am still in contact with others from the program, via the WhatsApp Group Platform and Africa Center Daily Africa Media Review.
How have you seen improvements to African security resources over the past 25 years?
AW: As a citizen of a post-conflict country, knowing what international and regional interventions have done to ensure and maintain peace and security, I appreciate the crucial roles bodies such as the Africa Center have to play in maintaining security. The Africa Center for the past 25 years has been strategically sharing knowledge and building capacities across Africa and the world at large by working to combat money laundering, curtail risks of internal conflicts, and help with early warning signs to mitigate climate change, among others.
How do you anticipate African security resource challenges changing in the coming 25 years?
AW: With efforts like the one the Africa Center is applying through massive capacity building, peer discussions and the creation of awareness and development of a united force among bordering countries, the curtailing of vices that pose threats to regional peace and security such as money laundering and terrorism will be drastically reduced if not eliminated in the next two decades.
We’re reflecting on our mission and vision statement as we hit our 25th anniversary; how is the Africa Center doing at reaching its objectives?
AW: From the look of things, not only has the center lived up to the objective for which it came into being, it seems ready and propelled to face and tackle future challenges in meeting the expectations of countries and people yearning for lasting peace and stability. The Africa Center is expected to have more people-centered discussions and initiatives as a way of sustaining past gains and pressing for an improved future.