Minister’s Advisor,
Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, GUINEA
Could you please introduce yourself and tell us about your background, and what public service means to you?
My name is Binta Barry. I am a cabinet member at the Ministry of Planning, International Cooperation and Development of the Republic of Guinea, and a Paris Bar–qualified international project finance lawyer by training.
My work has focused on economic transformation and sovereign investment across Africa, particularly on how States can better structure projects focus development programs and mobilize and structure the required capital to fund them.
Public service today means building institutions capable of turning national resources and potentialities into tangible long-term prosperity and economic sovereignty.
What first drew you to public service, and what motivates you to continue your commitment today?
I first experienced public service over a decade ago at the Presidency of a West African State working on a strategic investment fund. That experience gave me direct exposure to the role States can play not only as regulators, but as active builders of economic ecosystems.
What motivates me today is the conviction that disciplined, professional, long-term public action can fundamentally shape national economies. When done properly, it can help build the financial and institutional ecosystems required for sustainable transformation.
As an emerging public leader, what does leadership in public service mean to you, and how does it shape the way you serve?
Leadership in public service means making the right decisions grounded on public interests even when they are difficult or unpopular in the short term.
In practice, it shapes my approach by pushing me to remain rigorous in substance, collaborative in method, and relentlessly focused on execution, ensuring that ideas and strategies move beyond design into real implementation, even under constraints.
Which values or standards are non‑negotiable for you when serving the public?
Integrity, professionalism and accountability are non-negotiable.
Public trust is the Nordic gold i.e one of the most valuable assets a State can hold, and it must be protected consistently.
I also believe deeply in the rule of law and in approaching public action with both technical rigor and a strong sense of responsibility toward the collective interest.
Can you share one specific change, reform or initiative that you have helped to shape in public service, and why does it matter to you?
I lead the formation of the Guinea Sovereign Wealth Fund and have been involved in the origination and early design of the 2040 national development plan, which the fund is intended to help implement.
This work matters because if we are to achieve our goals under the leadership of His Excellency, Monsieur Mamady Doumbouya, President of the Republic of Guinea in the next 14 years, we needed a structured roadmap with a credible pipeline of investment-ready projects, strong governmental coordination on execution and a professional state-owned vehicle capable of mobilizing and channeling capital effectively.
When you think about delivery and impact, what does meaningful public service success look like for the citizens you serve?
Tangible results and trust in the capacity of Guinean public servants to deliver on them.
