Dr. Anthony Barclay is a distinguished development specialist and poet with extensive experience in public policy, management, governance, research, and capacity building at national and international organizations. He has held notable positions such as Associate Professor at the University of Liberia (1988-1990), Adjunct Lecturer at Cuttington University, and Senior Advisor at the World Bank (2009-2018). His research focuses on human development, governance, and economic policy, and he has contributed to several publications as an author, editor, and co-editor.
Dr. Barclay holds a B.A. in Economics from Cuttington University in Liberia, an M.A. in Public Policy and Administration (specializing in economic planning and development), and a Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning (with a minor in economics) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. His career spans several decades, during which he has made significant contributions to development policy and practice, particularly in Liberia and the broader West African region.
His Professional Experience is diverse and includes:
• At the World Bank, Dr. Barclay served as a Senior Advisor to the Executive Director for Africa (2009-2017) covering 22 African countries, including Liberia. He provided strategic advice on development projects and policies and engaged these countries to enhance their relationship with the Bank, contributing to shaping the development landscape in the region. As a Senior Advisor, he was also a member of the Executive Board of the World Bank Group contributing to its operational and administrative policies.
• ECOWAS: Human Development and Poverty Alleviation Advisor, focusing on regional strategies to improve living standards and reduce poverty. He also headed the ECOWAS Special Task Force on Migration.
• At the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), Dr. Barclay developed, appraised, and supervised capacity-building projects in Kenya, Uganda, Lesotho, and Namibia, focusing on capacity development for policy analysis and development.
• Central Bank of Liberia (CBL): Executive Director for Research, Policy, and Planning, provided leadership and contributed to researching, reporting and advising on the state of the economy, including economic policy and related development issues during the early phase of the CBL’s transition from the National Bank of Liberia.
• UNDP/Liberia: Senior management team member, contributing to project development, operations, and research.
• University of Liberia (UL): Director of the UL Office of Planning and Institutional Development, in addition to teaching.
Doctoral Dissertation
Title: Fiscal Performance and Economic Growth: The Buoyancy of the Tax Structure in Liberia (Publication No. 8618259) [Doctoral dissertation, University of Wisconsin-Madison]. ProQuest, 1986.
Dr. Barclay’s dissertation, titled ‘Fiscal Performance and Economic Growth: The Buoyancy of the Tax Structure in Liberia ‘, has had a significant impact on economic policy in Liberia. His analysis of how changes in tax policies and revenue collection impact economic development, using various economic models to evaluate the elasticity and responsiveness of different tax components to changes in GDP, has provided valuable insights and policy recommendations for improving fiscal performance in Liberia.
