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Elias Shoniyin
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World Fellow
, Diplomat, International Affairs and Development Professional
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Paynesville,
Liberia
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A World Fellow at Yale University, result-driven international affairs executive with demonstrated experience in implementing high-level international economic cooperation and integration programs and negotiations, culminating into increased resource mobilization, trade volume, investment inflows, and solid partnership for Liberia. I am now open to other opportunities. |
 Contact Elias Shoniyin
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Area of Expertise: |
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Capacity Building, Training, Advocacy, Political
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Director, CEO, COP, President
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Government/Governance, Reforms
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Social, Education, Gender, Youth, Child
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Trade, Finance, Economics, Cooperation, Global
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Professional Experience: |
World Fellow, Yale University
• I have mentored many students; served as guest lecturer, served on several panels and facilitated seven thought-provoking presentations covering multiple issues in international affairs, development, mentorship, career development, leadership, fragile state reconstruction, and global power shift.
Lecturer, International Relations, University of Liberia
Collaborate with academic team to improve curriculum, instructional methods and class management. Orchestrate workshops and public lectures and serve on multiple committees; evaluate and advise students on academic progress.
• Update course content and leverage social media platforms to facilitate deeper interactions with an average of 12+ students; strengthened students’ capacity to write and improve their ability to argue their positions.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (Principal Deputy), Liberia
Orchestrated and supervised operational activities including reform of twenty-eight embassies, forty-seven consulates across all continents, and three geographical bureaus as well as Office of the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs.
• Directed 200+ employees at foreign/diplomatic mission and 400+ additional staff at Foreign Ministry; administered an average annual $13+M budget.
• Coordinated and participated in multiple regional mediation efforts, advising Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, then Liberian President and Chair ECOWAS Authority, that peacefully resolved the post-electoral stalemate in The Gambia, 2016/17.
• Spearheaded Liberia’s participation at multiple high-level summits and conferences; Eg. UNGA, African Union, ECOWAS and Mano River Union (MRU).
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Economic Cooperation and Integration
Monitored and coordinated all activities of economic cooperation and integration to which Liberia was a party; identified viable areas and projects for cooperation and withdrawals from existing cooperation arrangements based on the result of studies; coordinated project planning, annual strategic work plans, forecasted and aligned budget to expected results; drove grant making mechanisms; ensured compliance with donor regulations and policies. Cultivated diverse skills, effective leadership team, and positive organizational culture.
• Negotiated multiple cooperation arrangements with bilateral and multilateral partners including multinational firms, culminating in rehabilitation or expansion of health and education sectors, infrastructure, agriculture and fisheries, trade, and investment in Liberia. Example: rehabilitation or construction of more than 76 public education institutions and 88 health centers in Liberia from 2006 to 2019.
• Focal Person on Economic and Governance Pillars of Liberia post-conflict development agendas, leading to exponential GDP growth from 4.9% in 2005 to 8.7% in 2014 (before Ebola crisis); integrally contributed to Liberia’s post-conflict reconstruction and recovery efforts;
• Supervision of institutionalized dialogues with US, EU, Japan, China, and many other partners, which culminating into over US$3 billion in development assistance and $10.5 billion in investment and trade between 2006 to 2019.
• Government Technical Lead on the global development goals negotiations - SDGs; supervised activities of two technical bureaus; controlled $3M annual budget and supervised 75 staff.
Additional experience as Chairman of Liberia Foreign Service Board and the Foreign Service Institute; Boards Member of Liberia National Small Arm Commission; and Liberia’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU); Assistant Foreign Minister for International Economic Cooperation and Integration; Master Trainer, World Vision, Teaching Assistant, Lincoln College of Professional Studies, Social Mobilization Officer, Habitat For Humanity – Youth Service; Team Ministry of Health Leader.
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Education: |
Australian National University, Crawford School of Economics and Government
Canberra, Australia
Masters of Public Policy (MPP) – Specializing Development Policy
Concentration: International Policy Making; Development themes, theory and Practice; Global trading system and Investment policy and Services.
Post Graduate Diploma Public administration (PGDMPA)
Concentration: Public Sector Management.
Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service School, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Liberia
Monrovia, Liberia
Post Graduate Diploma, Contemporary Diplomacy and International Relations
Concentration: Global Governance; International Development; Theories of International Relations; Political economy; Diplomatic Communications; Diplomatic Writing; Protocol and Etiquettes; Introduction to French Language;
University of Liberia, Capitol Hill, Monrovia, Liberia
Bachelor of Arts, BA, Sociology, Minor in Demography
Concentration: Social-Demographic Development
Lincoln College of Professional Studies, Monrovia, Liberia
Associate Degree (AA), English Language and Literature
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Affiliations and Achievements: |
• Knight Commander, Humane Order of African Redemption, one of Liberia’s Orders of Distinction granted by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Former President of the Republic of Liberia, GoL, 2017
• Award for Leadership of the African and Caribbean Business Council (ACBC) in the U.S., African and Caribbean Business Council (ACBC), 2015
• Ambassador of prestigious Golden Image Award of the Republic of Liberia; ACBC, 2017 & 2018
• Laity of the Year, Stephen Trowan Nagbe United Methodist Church-Liberia, 2017 & 2018
• Chartered Fellowship Awards as Eminent Ambassador of the International Association of World Peace Advocates, International Association of World Peace Advocates, 2018
• New York State Legislative Resolution of Honor, FACE Africa at Ninth Annual WASH Gala, 2018;
• Citation of Honor, New York City Council, March 2018
• Citation of Honor, FACE Africa Ninth Annual WASH Gala, New York State Assembly, March 2018
• Certificate of Appreciation, for my contribution to the development of Australia Awards Alumni Network, 2012,
• Public Servant of the Year, Multiple Institutions, (2014 through 2017).
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