Water Engineering and Development Centre

31 Oct 2017

Distinguished Alumnus, George Yarngo


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Pictured above: Julie Fisher; Tony Thorpe; George Yarngo and Anne Blenkinsopp 

 

We were delighted to welcome George Yarngo, Assistant Minister for Community Services at the Ministry of Public Works, Liberia back to the Water, Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC), Loughborough University on the 26th October 2017.  George received the prestigious award of Distinguished Alumnus in recognition of his ‘Inspiring leadership and outstanding commitment to improve and develop the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) service provision in Liberia’.

After completing his degree in Water and Environmental Management at Loughborough University in 1989, George returned to Liberia to take up the position of Director at the Ministry of Rural Development. 

George was the primary driver behind the development of the Liberia WASH Compact, WASH Sector Strategic Plan, WASH Sector Capacity Development Plan, the Sector Investment Plan and the WASH Sector Joint Review.  He also led the sector in its response to the devastating Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in 2014-15.

In 2012 George’s leadership abilities and capacities led to him being appointed by President Sirleaf to the position of Assistant Minister for Community Services in the Ministry of Public Works. He has continued to lead and inspire the WASH sector from this position ever since.

He is the currently the 1st Vice Chairman of the Technical Advisory Committee for AMCOW in West Africa and Chair of the Sub-committee of Monitoring and Learning (SML) for AfricaSan.

George is an inspirational person, who is held in very high esteem both nationally and internationally. It is the trust that the international donors, as well as the government, have in him, that has enabled much of the progress in the Liberian water sector over the years. His collaborative attitude and approach in response to the many challenges that post-conflict Liberia has faced, has made a significant difference in access to WASH services for many of the poorest and most vulnerable people across Liberia.