Meet the Foreign Affairs Cluster of COLED—A Collaborative Partner for Diplomatic Renewal
The Foreign Affairs Cluster of the Coalition of Liberian Experts in America (COLED) consists of highly skilled and experienced professionals, each bringing extensive knowledge gained through rigorous training in their fields. Motivated by a passion for national prosperity, this group aligns its expertise with Development Diplomacy’s core mission—transforming the Liberian foreign service into an efficient, ethical, and results-driven organization capable of fostering economic growth and attracting essential international resources.
The Cluster functions as a willing and capable technical partner, providing essential capacity support to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) upon request. Its role is to quickly transfer specialized knowledge, share international best practices, and deliver targeted training programs that enhance staff diplomatic skills, negotiation techniques, and understanding of complex international relations. Importantly, the Cluster is neither an implementer nor a parallel structure to the government’s administrative bodies. It is an external resource that offers technical assistance and expertise strictly upon request to help accelerate the MFA’s modernization efforts.
The expertise offered by the Cluster is strategically focused on supporting the government’s objectives, including:
- Institutional Capacity Building: Providing information and training to strengthen the MFA’s organizational capacity, streamline its structure, implement effective performance management, and uphold strict ethical standards for diplomats.
- Digital Transformation: Offering guidance on using modern technology to increase efficiency and enhance consular services, such as implementing online visa applications, passport renewals, and citizen registration platforms.
- Economic Resource Mobilization: Sharing knowledge on public diplomacy, donor engagement, and leveraging international networks to attract more development assistance and foreign direct investment into Liberia.
Through this specialized consultative partnership, the COLED Foreign Affairs Cluster is dedicated to helping the government build a more modern, efficient, and impactful foreign service, fostering greater national development and increasing Liberia’s global presence.
Meet Our Cluster Members:
S. Sando Wayne, Sr.
Chairman
Sando Wayne, II
Chair, Foreign Affairs Cluster, COLED
Sando Wayne, II, is a highly accomplished policy architect and institutional leader whose career combines top-level diplomatic service, proven technical policy expertise, and a philosophical commitment to Development Diplomacy. Currently serving as the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Cluster at COLED, his leadership focuses on translating strategic foreign policy into measurable national growth, effective governance, and sustainable international partnerships. His diplomatic experience was shaped during his critical tenure as Deputy Minister for International Cooperation and Economic Integration, where he successfully managed strategic bilateral relationships, securing vital development aid and resources from international partners like Japan and China. His involvement also extended to global security norms, as he supported Liberia’s endorsement of the UN Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and actively contributed to United Nations policy discussions on addressing host-state institutional challenges.
Mr. Wayne’s professional standing is supported by a specialized policy framework developed through multiple advanced studies, including master’s degrees in International Relations, Public Administration (PA), and Curriculum & Instruction (C&I) from prestigious U.S. universities. This multidisciplinary background ensures expertise not only in diplomatic theory but also in effective policy implementation, human capital development, and institutional capacity building —essential components for long-term development efforts.
Crucially, his ability to conduct thorough, technical policy analysis is confirmed by his experience as a consultant for the World Bank Group, where he developed policies on complex issues, including economic integration strategies and governance reform. This diverse background, which includes leadership in private sector infrastructure projects, ensures that the cluster’s policy recommendations are viable, commercially sound, politically acceptable, and operationally feasible. In today’s information environment, where unregulated online discourse and misinformation erode public trust, Mr. Wayne’s strong commitment to objective, technical policy analysis and documented, verifiable results is vital for grounding foreign affairs strategy in facts and maintaining the cluster’s professional integrity in global engagement.
Teah R. Jardia
Co-chair, Foreign Relations Cluster
Teah R. Jardia
Co-chair, Foreign Relations Cluster
Teah Roosevelt Jardia is Co-chair and Senior Fellow of the Foreign Relations Cluster. He is a respected community leader, grassroots organizer, and policy analyst dedicated to Liberia’s progress. He uses his extensive expertise to address international policy and development issues.
Mr. Jardia’s professional foundation is built on a strong academic background across the East Coast. His educational journey started in Durham, North Carolina, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from North Carolina Central University. Committed to enhancing his public service skills, he moved to the Greater Philadelphia area and earned a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Strayer University. He completed his formal education in Glenside, Pennsylvania, earning a Master of Arts in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from Arcadia University.
An avid activist and prolific writer, Mr. Jardia has authored numerous articles providing critical analysis of Liberia’s socio-political landscape. He combines his extensive knowledge of his homeland with a commitment to grassroots organizing, working tirelessly to bridge the gap between policy ideas and community empowerment in both the United States and Liberia. In 2023, Jardia ran for the House vacancy seat for District One in his beloved Sinoe County, Liberia.