Chairman’s Message
Welcome to the Information Technology Cluster of COLED! Our cluster provides the technology services required to support cutting-edge public sector development in Liberia. We operate under the leadership of the Chairman, who reports directly to the Interim Leadership led by Dr. Robert G. Sherman.
We take a proactive, collaborative approach to deliver innovative, reliable, and sustainable technology solutions. Our goal is to optimize user satisfaction and outcomes across COLED’s mission.
We support these major functional areas:
Legislative, Executive, Judiciary, Public Administration, Defense & National Security, Finance & Budgeting, Foreign Affairs, Public Safety, Health & Social Services, Education, Infrastructure & Development, Environmental Management, End-User Training & Support, Communications & Networking, and Systems Administration & Operation.
Our cluster is designed to be customer-centered and responsive. We strive to gain high regard from COLED, cluster members, public and private partners, and international stakeholders.
About the Information Technology Cluster
Approximately 75% of Liberia’s workforce is employed by government entities—primarily at the state and local levels (e.g. schools, police, social services, hospitals) and less than 10% by private industry. Despite the need, the pace of technology adoption in both government and private sectors has been slow. Several factors contribute:
- Insufficient funding
- Corruption and weak accountability
- Complex procurement and contracting practices
- Lack of internal IT capacity
- Fragmented agency systems
These limitations have led to inefficient, costly, and cumbersome public services.
Vision & Impact
Our cluster’s vision aligns with COLED’s mission to reduce poverty, increase literacy, and improve infrastructure. We aim to lay the foundation for a digital government guided by informed policy.
Greater adoption of technology in government can:
- Eliminate redundant, error-prone manual processes
- Free workers to address more complex service needs
- Make government services more accessible
- Speed assistance to citizens
But technology must be deployed responsibly—ensuring public servants can assess whether systems are effectively serving the population.
In the public sector, technology plays many roles. We categorize them (sometimes overlapping) into:
- Infrastructure & Connectivity
- Education & e-learning technology
- Healthcare technology
- Digital financial services
- E-governance & citizen services
- Cybersecurity & data protection
- Green/renewable energy tech
- Agritech
To unlock these opportunities, we must overcome several challenges:
- Limited infrastructure
- Unreliable electricity
- Digital divides (urban vs rural, socioeconomic gaps)
- Budget constraints
- Educational / skills gaps
- Cybersecurity risks
- Weak regulatory frameworks
These require coordinated efforts from government, private sector, and international partners, with investment in infrastructure, education, and policy.
Meet Our Cluster Members:
Hajie Goll, MSIS
Chairman
Charles Howard
Co-Chairman
Key Focus Areas
We support technology that replaces or streamlines manual work:
- Manual task automation — e.g. document scanners, smart parking, digital printers
- Process automation — e-government tools (online payments, benefit applications, chatbots, robotic process automation)
- Automated decision systems — AI, machine learning, predictive analytics
- Integrated data systems — unified databases and cloud networks
- Electronic monitoring — cameras, drones, performance software
Citizens expect public services to be as simple and seamless as private sector experiences. Digital government services can include:
- Filing taxes
- Renewing driver’s licenses
- Passport applications
- Benefit claims
We emphasize:
- Open government data — transparency and public access
- Digital identity systems — secure, streamlined interactions
- Cybersecurity — safeguarding government and citizen data
- Smart cities — tech in urban infrastructure
- Blockchain — secure recordkeeping
- AI & data analytics — evidence-based governance
- Cloud computing & mobile government (m-gov) — scalable, accessible systems
Because the public sector stores vast amounts of sensitive data, it’s a prime target for cyberattacks. Risks are heightened by:
- Rapid growth in digital services
- Complex, interconnected systems
- Heavy consequences for breaches (financial, reputational, legal)
We will build a foundational cybersecurity framework that educates stakeholders and protects against evolving threats.
Core Values
- Service Excellence — responsive, respectful, solution-oriented
- Reliability — dependable, robust technologies
- Innovation — advancing tech to boost efficiency and effectiveness
- Security — protecting personal and institutional data
I (the Chairman) commit to closely analyzing ambitious goals from cluster members, engaging in regular dialogue, and fostering a culture of optimism and growth. I will fulfill my responsibilities by creating a diverse, open, and supportive work environment.