At the Ministry’s Conference Hall, Tower Hill, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) convened a high-level meeting with International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) Country Directors. The meeting brought together top officials from MoPED, including the Hon. Minister, Development Secretary, and other directors, along with the SLANGO Coordinator.
In her opening statement, the Hon. Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Madam Kenyek Barlay, restated the Ministry’s role in shaping and leading mutually beneficial and accountable development coordination for INGOs, NGOs, and development partners. She commended the proactive role of INGOs and NGOs, whose critical contributions across Sierra Leone continue to complement government’s efforts in pursuing the Medium-Term National Development Plan (2024–2030). She further highlighted the importance of MoPED’s innovation of breaking down national targets annually, which has enabled effective progress tracking and timely corrective action.
The Minister expressed government’s appreciation of the commitment shown by the INGO community in striving to achieve the country’s development goals. She pointed out that during the first annual assessment in 2024, many targets were not only met but also surpassed, thanks to the support of NGOs. Under the Feed Salone initiative, she noted that targets in land cultivation and yields reached 97 percent, while the fisheries sector exceeded expectations in both catch and revenue generation, with export certification to China secured a year ahead of schedule. She also reflected on challenges in assessing nutrition outcomes due to limited consolidated data across agriculture, health, and education, and encouraged NGOs to share survey findings to help build a clearer national picture.
On human capital development, the Minister highlighted significant progress in the health sector, with targets achieved in maternal mortality, infant mortality, and life expectancy, largely due to strong NGO support. In education, advances are being made in curriculum adaptation and teacher ratios, though she stressed that the critical needs of children with disabilities remain under-addressed and require urgent attention. In the area of youth employment, she acknowledged that while the 2024 target of 37,000 jobs was not met, 22,000 new jobs were created, mostly in the private sector. She also underscored ongoing work in infrastructure, governance, technology, and financial inclusion, which continue to lay the foundation for sustained service delivery.
While celebrating these achievements, the Minister reminded participants that more work remains to be done. She called for stronger partnerships among government, NGOs, and development partners at national, sectoral, district, and even chiefdom levels. She encouraged coordination through alignment among NGOs, the NGO Directorate, sector ministries, and local councils to avoid duplication and to better target resources. Above all, she stressed the need for effective service delivery, where collective efforts are translated into tangible improvements in people’s lives. In closing, she urged NGO leaders to seize the opportunity, ahead of their wider discussions with His Excellency the Vice President, to propose practical solutions that will yield more impactful results for the people of Sierra Leone.
The Development Secretary, Mr. Ambrose James, applauded the NGO Directorate at MoPED for coordinating the engagement with INGOs, reiterating the Ministry’s leadership role in driving development programs. He emphasized that Sierra Leone’s development must be anchored at the district, chiefdom, and village levels, where ownership and accountability reside. He outlined his vision to strengthen the District Development Coordination Committees (DDCCs), which he described as the “last mile” and the most cost-effective mechanism for delivering development. These committees, he explained, represent leadership at the local level and provide platforms for accountability, dialogue, and monitoring. He added that while he may not always have the opportunity to visit every district, he would rely on the reports generated by DDCCs to monitor progress, identify gaps, and track the performance of NGOs and CBOs.
Mr. James further explained that the DDCC framework will be prioritized in government budgets and will also serve as a platform for monitoring the New Digital National Development Plan, particularly its five game changers. Looking ahead, he revealed plans to pilot similar structures at the chiefdom level, building on lessons learned from the districts. However, he also cautioned that global trends in development finance are changing, with overseas development assistance shrinking due to shifting international priorities. He cited recent closures of major NGOs such as MSF and IMC as a wake-up call, stressing the need for innovation, diversification of funding sources, and stronger partnerships with the private sector, foundations, and individuals. He assured participants of government’s commitment to support NGOs in navigating this transition and encouraged open dialogue on how best to sustain development efforts in the new funding landscape.
He also commended his team, particularly Mr. Eric Massally and colleagues, for their continuous efforts in supporting NGO operations, and thanked SLANGO for its vital role in keeping partnerships strong. At the same time, he urged NGOs to adhere strictly to established procedures, noting that some organizations had been suspended for non-compliance. He highlighted challenges with delayed signing of Service Level Agreements, stressing that such practices undermine accountability and trust. He assured that government’s role is not to police but to guide and support NGOs, and called for mutual commitment to rules and procedures as the basis for stronger partnerships.
Facilitating the discussions, Mr. Eric Massally, Director of NGO Affairs at MoPED, emphasized the central themes of coordination, partnership, and service delivery. He introduced the Development Secretary to the INGO Country Directors, noting his wealth of experience and strong commitment to addressing sector challenges.
Madam Mbalu Adjaratu Kamara, Director of the Rural Development Directorate, also made interventions on coordination at the district level, particularly raising concerns around absenteeism, reporting gaps, and the quality of representation in some districts.
In their responses, several INGO Country Directors, including Mr. James Riak Mazhang of GOAL Sierra Leone, Mr. Victor Kamara of ChildFund International, Mr. Michael Alandu of CARE Sierra Leone, Mr. Mattia Koi Dimor of Christian Aid, Mr. Francis Oppong, Acting Country Director of Save the Children, Madam Sia Lajaku-Williams of One Girl, and Madam Dayina Offerly of Concern Worldwide, all underscored the importance of coordination in realizing effective service delivery and aligning with the National Development Agenda. They emphasized the need for robust information systems to guide their operations, especially given frequent leadership transitions, and called on the Ministry to help identify gaps and co-develop solutions that strengthen coordination and partnerships across the 16 district councils.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment by MoPED and INGOs to deepen coordination, foster stronger partnerships, and sustain their collective contributions to Sierra Leone’s national development goals.
Credit: Alfred Kabia
