Ambassador Umaru Bundu Wurie

 

 

 

• 
  
  
  

  Curriculum Vitae
  

  UMARU BUNDU WURIE

  
  

  
  
•  

  Personal Data:
  

  • Umaru Bundu Wurie - (CRSL)

  
  

  • Ambassador At-Large

  
  

  (Commander of the ORDER of the Republic of Sierra Leone)

  
  

  • President, AFROAZ International

  
  

  16, Percival Street

  
  

  Freetown.

  
  

  • Mob. No.+ 232 (0) 76 671-200

  
  

  • E-mail Address uwurie@yahoo.com
  • Male
  • Citizen of Sierra Leone, married with four children (1982, 1984 twins, 1994)
    

  Summary of Expertise
  

  • Humanitarian Coordination in relation to projects/programmes
  • Diplomatic Expertise
  • Project Management/Implementation/Analysis
  • Negotiations, bilateral/multilateral
  • Human Resources Development /Training of extension staff in the field of agriculture
  • Peace Negotiation, Military/Civilian Coordination
  • Promotion of environmental issues
  • Urban/Regional planning
  • Remote sensing/Aerospace survey/image processing

  
  

  Formal Education:

  
  

  • BSc, University of Virginia, USA, 1972-1973, majored in Geology
  • BSc, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, 1973-1976, Geology,
  • Post Graduate Dip, International Institute for Aerial Survey/Earth Sciences, Delft, Netherlands, 1979-1980
  • Master of Arts in International Relations, University of Bedford, June 2001
    

  Training Courses:

  
  

  • UNESCO sponsored African specialized regional course, Mining Geology, Nairobi, Kenya 1981;
  • Remote Sensing Course in Geological Interpretation, United States Geological Survey, South Dakota, 1982;
  • Course in Development/Operations of Agricultural Extension Programme, USAID sponsored, University of Wisconsin, 1984;
  • Course in Designing/Implementation of National Energy Conservation Programme, Canadian government sponsored, Nairobi, 1985;
  • Course in Implementation of Agriculture/Rural Projects/Programmes, British Government sponsored, University of Manchester, UK, 1986;
  • Course in Agricultural/rural Project Management Project Planning, World Bank sponsored, University of Bradford, UK, 1986;
  • Senior Manager’s Course in Agriculture, Management Agricultural Centre, Switzerland, Bri tish Council sponsored, 1988.

  
  Languages:
  
  

  • English (fluent)
  • Good knowledge of various African languages
    

  Humanitarian/Emergency Relief Experience
  

  • Observation and reporting humanitarian situations in Iraq
  • During the Liberian crisis, assisted in receiving newly arrived refugees (2000-5000) from Liberia at a later date after being posted as High Commissioner/Ambassador; handled Sierra Leonean refugees from Liberia sent to Nigeria by the Nigerian Government for onward travel to Sierra Leone, received/provided humanitarian assistance and acted as Welfare Officer
  • Responsible for sierra Leoneans pilgrims for three consecutive years to Mecca especially during the Hajj providing humanitarian assistance in the form of food/medicines/clothing and money.
  • During the Hurricane Mitch Crisis, represented World food Programme in assessing mission project needs, working together with WFP Regional Director in visiting various disaster areas both by land and air to provide necessary assistance to the affected areas in Guatemala and Nicaragua.
  • Responsible for providing assistance to all nationals in Need.

  
  

  Field Experience:
  

  Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Togo, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Zaire, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Iraq, Tanzania, Liberia, Kenya, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Syria, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, United Emirates, Turkey, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, United Kingdom, The Netherlands and the USA.
  

  Summary of Relevant Work Experience:
  

  September, 2011 – Present

  
  

  President, AFROAZ International

  
  

  DUTIES:
  

  • Responsible for the Supervision of the Company’s activities in ensuring that the Company’s Plans for Medium and Long Term

  
  

  are actualized.
  

  • Coordination and formulation of the Company’s Programmes and develop strategies to ensure effective their implementation.
    

  • Collaborate and coordination with relevant institutions both Government and Private so as to enable the Company meet its obligations.
    

  • Chairs and direct the Company’s Board meetings so that decisions reached are acted upon.
    

  April 14^th 2010 – September, 2011

  
  

  Ambassador At-Large & Development Secretary
  

  DUTIES - Responsible for the supervision and actualization of the following:-

  
  

  Strategic Planning and Donor Relations Department

  
  

  1. Central Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division
     

  • Identification of medium term national development priorities for growth and poverty reduction.
  • Coordination of the formulation of national development strategies such as the PRSP and District Development Plans.
  • Coordination of the formulation and evaluation of sectoral and regional policies and strategies.
  • Coordination of the preparation of programmes and projects to be implemented under the national, regional, district and sectoral development plans.
  • Appraise projects of MDAs to determine viability and consistency with the PRSP – Agenda for Change
  • Developing and building information systems and databases on development programmes.
  • Monitoring and evaluation of externally and internally funded capital projects.
  • Monitoring the efficiency and effectiveness of public expenditures using Public Expenditure Tracking Surveys (PETS).
  • Collaborate with relevant institutions and departments to undertake research into the prevalence of poverty in some regions of the country.
    

  (ii) Development Assistance Coordination Division
  

  • Coordination and monitoring external resource mobilization strategy.
  • Coordinate the development and implementation of the Sierra Leone Aid Policy.
  • Maintaining an up to date database on all development assistance using the Development Assistance Database (DAD) and provide timely reports.
  • Facilitate the implementation of donor funded projects by addressing bottlenecks to implementation.
  • Coordinating development assistance from all multilateral and bilateral development partners.
  • Collect and collate information on NGO activities including area of operation, sectors, target beneficiaries.
  • Monitor adherence to the NGO Policy
  • Monitoring and implementation of International Principles of Aid effectiveness.
  • Collaborate with the Public Debt Unit in contracting, negotiating and conclusion of loan and grant agreements with donors consistent with Government policies.
  • Facilitate regular dialogue between Government and development partners.
  • Reviewing and processing withdrawal applications for the replenishment of funds for donor – funded projects, especially multilaterals
    

  (iii) Regional Integration and South-South Cooperation Division

  
  

  • Oversee and coordinate regional integration matters implemented by the African Union (AU), Economic Community and West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, New Partnership for Economic Development in Africa (NEPAD) the Mano River Union (MRU) and Commonwealth Secretariat.
  • Facilitate and coordinate South-South Cooperation.
  • Monitor and evaluate programmes/projects implemented by ECOWAS, MRU and South-South cooperation Agencies.
  • Focal point for Commonwealth, ECOWAS, MRU and NEPAD programmes

  
  

  June 25^th 2009 - April 15^th 2010

  
  

  Ambassador At-Large & Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mineral Resources and Political Affairs.

  
  

  DUTIES - Formulates and implements substantive work programme of the Ministry,
  

  • Chief Adviser to the Minister of Mineral Resources and Political Affairs and his Deputy
    

  • Head of the Ministry’s Administration

  • Responsible for the coordination of Personnel and Staff Matters
    

  • Manage the finances of the Ministry as Vote Controller
    

  • Manages the activities of the Ministry,
    

  • Ensure that the programmed activities are carried out in a timely manner,
    

  • Coordinates the Administrative, Technical and Professional work of the Ministry,
    

  • Coordinates the work of the Ministry in relation to other Line Ministries and Organisations in an appropriate fashion,
    

  • Overseas policy analysis and identifying key issues arising from the Legislative and Cabinet
    

  • Supervising the functions of the Administration, the Mines Division, Geological Divisions and the National Minerals Advisory board, ensuring their effective operations.
    

  • Take overall responsibility for the Organisation, preparation and finalization of briefs on policy issues of the Ministry.
    

  • Preparing position (Cabinet) Papers and Proposals on substantive issues on behalf of the Ministry
    

  • April 6, 2006 - Chairman/President, Port Loko Teachers’ College Council
    

  DUTIES:
  

  • Chairs the Council’s Meetings
    

  • Supervise the Administration of the college

  
  

  • Coordinate all committees and advise on action to be taken
    

  • Seek assistance for the College and responsible for improvement of infrastructure
    

  • Seek support for student and staff welfare
    

  • September 2004 to June 2009: Director General and Ambassador At-Large

  
  

  Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Sierra Leone
  

  Responsibilities/Duties:
  

  • Chief Administrator of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
    

  • Adviser to the President on foreign affairs matters
    

  • Chief Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs on International Relations and Foreign Affairs
    

  • Responsible for the coordination of personnel and staff matters
    

  • Formulating, managing and implementing Sierra Leone’s foreign policy in conjunction with the Minister of foreign Affairs
    

  • Managing the various divisions in the Ministry of foreign Affairs in terms and human and financial resources with responsibility for all related planning and reporting activities to Government.
    

  • Responsible for the coordination of foreign diplomatic missions and international organisation and non-governmental organisations in relation to government’s policies, as well as, maintaining good relations with all stakeholders.
    

  • In charge with the coordination of the work of Sierra Leone’s diplomatic missions abroad, making sure that our external relations are maintained at the appropriate level.
    

  • Responsible for the final approval of duty free concession for diplomatic missions and international organizations in Sierra Leone
    

  • Identify new and excellent staff, as well as. Provide trainings both in service and in international arena.
    

  • Finding sources for support towards the provision of equipment, scholarships for training and other incentive that will provide a good working environment for all staff.
    

  • Appraising and evaluating staff and making recommendations for promotion.
    

  • Member of the Sierra Leone’s civil service posting committee that carries the duties of posting officers to other ministries as well as to the United Nations abroad to all our diplomatic missions abroad.
    

  • Promotes bilateral and multilateral economic cooperation
    

  • Established Foreign Missions and Consulate aboard

  
  

  • Seeks the welfare of destitute Sierra Leonean.
    

  • Manages conflict situation between Government and Foreign Governments.
    

  • Promotes and disseminates Government Policies in Foreign countries.

  Ambassador at Large
  
  

  • The above position confers on me:-
    

  • Special envoy status of His Excellency, the President
    

  • Plays a vital role in seeking development assistance for Sierra Leone
    

  • Empowered to initiate and pursue negotiations on behalf of Sierra Leone in the implementation of our poverty reduction strategy
    

  • Assists the Office of the Vice-President in coordinating policy implementation in relation to foreign aid and advice on strategies to be taken for sustained development growth

  
  

  • Coordinate and monitor the implementation of on-going projects to ensure follow-up actions among the various Ministries
    

  November 1996 – September 2004: Returned as Ambassador of Sierra Leone to Germany, Italy, Austria, and Switzerland
• Permanent Representative to the United Nations Agencies in Bonn, Geneva, Rome and Vienna
  

  • Instrumental in achieving the following in the countries enumerated below: 
    

  Germany
  

  • Twenty Four Million Deutschmarks (DM24,000,000.00) for development programmes in Sierra Leone
    

  • Paid in advance the pledge sum of Ten Million Deutschmarks (DM10, 000,000.00) to the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) Programme ensuring sufficiency of funds for future programmes.
    

  • Paid 10% of UNAMSIL cost in Sierra Leone
    

  • Development Assistance of Euro 24 Million (€24 M)
    

  • Successfully convinced the German Government to re-open its Embassy in Sierra Leone, which they closed in many countries due to financial difficulties, and Sierra Leone being of those closed at that time
    

  • Succeeded in earmarking Germany to financially support the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in Sierra Leone 
    

  • Acquiring additional funding for
    

  i) Basic education

  
  

  ii) Anti-Corruption Commission

  
  

  iii) Funds needed to bring to a close the DDR, programme

  
  

  December 2003; when funding could not be sought from other donors
  

  Italy
  

  • In June 2001, through my intervention, the Director of FAO approved donations of one hundred computers (100) from their stock in FAO to replace the ones destroyed by the rebels who attacked Njala University College, leaving the Computers Science Department in a serious need.
    

  • Convinced the Government of Italy during a meeting in Abidjan to help in providing part of the Thirty Five Million Dollars (US$ 35,000,000) which was the balance required to complete the Hydro Project in Sierra Leone which stood still due to lack of funds. 
    

  • As a member of the Executive Board of the World Food Programme, has initiated and decided on policies of strategies. Also responsible for overseeing the management of the organisation, notably by deciding the allocation of resources to programmes of work and budget and by ensuring conformity with agreed strategies and policies; Evaluated performance of the organisation and ensured accountability to Member States and Parent Bodies; Managed own governance processes. Instrumental for the Board’s approval in October 2001 of sixty million dollars (US$ 60,000,000.00) for Sierra Leone to provide assistance to the refugees and displaced people for twelve months (December 2001- December 2002).
    

  • In 1997, motivated Italy to resume food aid to Sierra Leone, which was stopped.
    

  • In 2003, was able to obtain Eighteen Million Euro (18M Euro) grant for the Bumbuna Hydroelectric Project from the Italian Government approximately ($22 Million USD).
    

  • Got Italian Government to write off other loans amounting to million dollars especially for the Bumbuna Project.
    

  • In 2003, negotiated and signed the Cancellation of Debts amounting to USD$17Million.
    

  • Have been able to get many Projects from FAO, WFP, and IFAD totaling millions of dollars for Sierra Leone.
    

  Austria
  

  • Facilitated the involvement of the Austrian Government in assisting the peace efforts in Sierra Leone.
    

  • Negotiated with OPEC Fund to provide a loan for the much-needed Commodity Imports Programme that will help release funds for development services and support the Government’s aim to promote socio-economic development 
    

  • Concluded OPEC Fund’s participation in the funding of the Bumbuna Hydroelectric Project in which OPEC Fund provided over five million dollars ($ 5 Million).
    

  • Approval by OPEC Fund of seven other loans to Sierra Leone, three of which provided balance of payment and four loans that supported projects in energy and transportation sector.
    

  • Responsible for Sierra Leone’s ratification of CTBTO.
    

  Switzerland
  

  • Concluded discussions that led the Swiss agency for international development to give support to Sierra Leone’s humanitarian need as well as the establishments of an office in Sierra Leone.
    

  • Worked for Sierra Leone’s membership to International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and signing of proposals.
    

  • Worked for the opening of an IOM Office in Sierra Leone before even Sierra Leone became a member country-not usually done by IOM for non-members.
    

  • Instrumental in the visit of Mrs. Mary Robinson, Human Rights Commission to Sierra Leone that led to a massive support for Sierra Leone’s plight of the war and contributed greatly to the approval of the largest peace keeping force in Sierra Leone.
• February to November 2000, Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator for the United Nations Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator in Iraq (UNOHCI), Baghdad Iraq.
• (During this period, I was still the Ambassador to Germany as agreed by my Government not to appoint anyone to my post).
  
  

  • Deputy Head of Mission for the UN Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator in Iraq.
    

  • Officer-in-Charge in the absence of the Humanitarian Coordinator, Office of the Iraq Programme (OIP).
    

  • Overall management of the UN Observation System throughout Iraq in close consultation with the Office of the Iraq Programme (OIP) to ensure that the following tasks are done.
    

  • Observation plans are planned in three monthly interval
    

  • The execution of observation activities correspond with the schedule in these quarterly plan.
    

  • The Sectoral Working Groups function effectively
    

  • The roles and responsibilities within the system are clearly defined and the fulfillment of these responsibilities conforms to these definitions
    

  • The design of tracking and other procedures conform to their stated objectives.
    

  • The data collected in the context of observation activities reflect the needs by all units of the mechanism and is reliably replicated for UNOHCI database and distributed to all observation bodies 
    

  • All efforts are made to ensure that observation activities in the three Northern Government are sufficiently coordinated with those in the Centre/South to ensure they are comparable in substance, methodology and Quality.
    

  • All regular and special reports produced are carefully scrutinized by DHC/UNOHCI to make sure they are of the highest quality.
    

  • Other responsibilities include: Focal Point/Liaison Officer for the relevant Ministries/Governors in the various Governorates as well as the local administration representative, coordinated with various UN Agencies and representatives, in charge of the full implementation of the Programme, direct supervision of the report writing which goes to the secretary General for his reporting to the Security Council, general staff supervision, dealt with staff complaints and made recommendations, analysed/maintained an overview of the work of the whole Programme ensuring that timely administration and logistics support is provided in general and specialized areas when required
    

  
  

  • My achievements in these positions were well documented in my letter to the Secretary-General dated March 21, 2001.
    

  November 1996 to Sept. 2004 Sierra Leone Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany with multi accreditation to Austria/Italy/Switzerland.
  

  • Dean for the Sierra Leone Diplomatic Corps
    

  • Accredited as Sierra Leone’s Permanent Representative to FAO (Rome), WFP Atomic Energy (Austria), UN Office in Vienna, Austria.
    

  • Within 6 months of posting, restored the badly damaged diplomatic relations between Sierra Leone and Germany, which resulted in the appointment of a German Ambassador to Sierra Leone.
    

  • Obtained from the German government 20 jeeps for the Police Force, 5 Mercedes trucks for the postal service as well as 20 complete computer sets for the postal services. Negotiated for a 3-year extension of a suspended development project funded by Germany.
    

  March 1993 to October 1996, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with multi accreditations as Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Turkey, Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, United Arab Emirates, and Sierra Leone’s High Commission to India/Pakistan.

  
  

  • Sierra Leone’s Permanent Representative to the Organisation of the Islamic conference, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia;
    

  • Coordinator/Representative in the Islamic Development Bank, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; promoted as Permanent Secretary in the Sierra Leone Civil Service.
    

  • Achievements: gathered much needed support from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Islamic Development Bank and from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Islamic Development Bank and from the State of Kuwait ranging from medicines/food/clothing and funds provided from Kuwaiti fund for road construction and grants from the Islamic Development Bank, Jeddah for rural development projects and Aid for Education, Health and Agriculture
    

  June 1989 to July 1993, Sierra Leone High Commissioner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria with multi accreditation as High Commissioner to the Republic of Ghana and Ambassador Extraordinary Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Benin/Cameroon/Equatorial Guinea/Togo/Zaire; accredited as sierra Leone’s Representative to the Economic community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), Nigeria.
  

  • Decided/recommended decisions to be taken in Summits, part of the delegation for Ministerial Meetings and Head of States Summit.
    

  • Acted as Adviser during these periods. Achievements: Responsible for the first ever Sierra Leone/Nigeria Joint Commission, which brought about increased participation in the fields of trade/mining/education/agriculture. In the military field, successfully obtained a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) covering
    

  Participation as Delegate:
• Economic Community of West African States (Ministerial Councils, Heads of State summits, ECOWAS Liberia Peace Talks; Organisation of African Unity Heads of State Summits (1992, Abuja, Nigeria; 1992, Dakar, Senegal, 1994, Tunis, Tunisia); Delegate to the UN General Assembly, Sept. 1998; Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), Head of 1994, Delegation/Representative (1994, Head of Delegation/Representative Conference in Jeddah; Delegation/Adviser, Foreign Ministers Conference, Guinea, Conakry. June 1997, Delivered Statement on the occasion of Alumni Edinboro University Pennsylvania Award. First Recipient of the Edinboro Special Recognition Alumni Award, which is rarely given to anyone, if so once in 5 years. Guest Lecturer at Bradford University Project Planning Centre. United Kingdom, 1987.
  
• Statements
  
  

  • IFAD: 25^th Session of Governing Council, 2002; 24^th Session Governing Council 2001; 22^nd Session of the Governing council; 21^st Session of the Governing Council 1999.
    

  • UNIDO: 20^th Session of the Industrial Development Board, 1998; 7^th Special Session of the Industrial Development Board, 1997; UNIDO General conference 199
    

  • COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS: 55^th Session of the Commission on Human Rights, 1999
    

  • ECOSOC: The High Level Segment of ECOSOC, 1999
    

  • IOM: 81^st Session of the Council of International Organisation for Migration, 2000; 82^nd Session of the Council of International Migration 2001, 50^th Anniversary Council of International Organisation for Migration, 2001.
    

  • The Edinboro University Alumni Award 2001 Speech
    

  • Edinboro African Studies Conference, “War, Refugees and the Environment in Africa, April 30, 2003
    

  • Celebration of Peace and Victory 2002 in the Republic of Sierra Leone, August 2002, Bonn
    

  Past and Present Memberships
  

  President of International Students Association, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania; Member of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania Foreign Relations Committee and Scholarship Board; Pennsylvania Committee for Affirmative Action; Member of Edinboro Student Government as congressman Holding Cabinet positions as Human Relations and Later as Head of Student Affairs; American Institute of Mining Engineers; Member of the Association of Geo-Scientist for International Development.
  

  Current Membership
  

  • Member of the Global Cooperation Council (North South forum) of Germany and elected as a Member of its Guiding Panel
  • Member of the Executive Board of World Food Programme (WFP)
  • Member of the Industrial Development board of UNIDO
  • Member of Committee on Agriculture (FAO) Rome
  • Alternate Governor for Sierra Leone at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
    

  Successive Services
  

  I have been able to serve three different Governments as Ambassador, which is not usually common in an African or Third World settings. It must be noted that my successive retention by Governments is not due to patronage but as a result of being a very productive, trusted, sincere and effective Ambassador.

  
  

  References:
  

  Mr. Mohamed Zejjari, Former Regional Director for Africa, WFP, Rome

  
  

  Tel No. +212 377 55697 (Morocco)

  
  

  Dr. Ahmed Mohammad Ali, President, Islamic Development Bank

  
  

  Tel. No. +966 2 636 6119, 966 2 636 1744/0822
  

  Rev. Tom Guerdat, Erie, Pennsylvania

  
  

  Tel. No. + 1814 898 1995
  

  Miscellaneous: 0020
  

  I will be readily available for a fixed term contract after giving a maximum of 2 months notice (Negotiable)
  

  “I certify that all information stated in this resume is true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I authorise the reader to verify the information provided in this resume”.
  
  

  Signed: Dated:
•  
•