Message from the President of Liberia
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Dear Friends of Liberia,
This is to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the founders and supporters of the Liberian International Development Foundation (LIDF) and the Liberian Institutional Development Initiative (LIDI) for demonstrating confidence, courage and foresight in establishing a Foundation in the United States for the purpose of raising funds for international friends of Liberia to assist in our re-emergence as a viable state.
I wish to confirm my strong interest and attendant support in seeing the LIDF and LIDI become important and vibrant institutions domestically, as we together urgently pursue the development of Liberia.
I herewith by this letter confirm the support of the Government of Liberia in promoting endeavors of both LIDF and LIDI, and our intent to provide your organizations with the assistance in establishing them as lead non-governmental organizations at home and abroad, charged with the arduous task of assisting in re-building Liberia.
Best Wishes,
President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
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About President Sirleaf
Liberia's "Iron Lady"
Called the "Iron Lady" of Liberian politics, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf returned to Liberia after Charles Taylor fled in 2003. Running for a second time as the Unity Party presidential candidate, she defeated George Weah in a November 2005 run-off election.
Sirleaf was sworn in as Liberia's first woman president on January 16, 2006.
During her inaugural address, President Sirleaf committed to the people of Liberia that her new administration will work with the world community to begin rebuilding the country’s economy and recovering from over 14 years of civil war and political corruption.
President Sirleaf has received strong praise from the international political and financial establishment as well as the international media since her election.
Her commitment to continued peace, promoting democracy and rebuilding Liberia's economy has afforded her presidency a historic opportunity to stabilize the country and increase foreign investment in Liberia.
Background
Born and educated in Monrovia, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf completed her studies in the United States, attending the University of Colorado at Boulder and obtaining her masters degree from Harvard University.
Prior to her election as president of Liberia, Sirleaf had a full and distinguished professional career of over 30 years. She served as Liberia's minister of finance, president of the Liberia Bank for Development and Investment, vice president of Citicorp, vice president of Hong Kong Equator Bank and as senior loan officer for the World Bank. She also served as assistant administrator and director of the United Nations Development Program's Regional Bureau for Africa.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Sirleaf has also served on several advisory boards in her home country and abroad and as a consultant for the UN Economic Commission for Africa.
Her numerous special honors include the Commander de l'Ordre du Mono of Togo (1996), the Ralph Bunche International Leadership Award of the United States (1995), the Franklin D. Roosevelt Freedom of Speech Award of the United States (1988) and the Grand Commander Star of Africa Redemption of Liberia (1980).
