The Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), has formally initiated preparations for a high-level Government–Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Dialogue Session, aimed at strengthening partnerships and enhancing collaboration for national development.
The primary objectives of the Dialogue Session are to strengthen partnerships between the Government and NGOs, identify emerging development challenges and propose collective solutions, and enhance sustainable service delivery through improved collaboration.
At a meeting held at the Office of the Vice President on Thursday, 17th April 2025, the Hon. Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Madam Kenyeh Barlay, formally presented the Dialogue Planning Committee Members to the Hon. Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh.
In her presentation, Minister Barlay provided an overview of the process so far and reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to fostering a mutually beneficial relationship with NGOs. She noted that while NGOs in some countries operate as adversaries to government, in Sierra Leone they serve as strategic partners in development, complementing state efforts in delivering critical services. She also underscored ongoing reforms such as the streamlining of NGO Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to ensure alignment with national priorities.
Minister Barlay expressed optimism about the planned dialogue, noting that it offers a platform to deepen coordination between government institutions and NGOs for the successful implementation of the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) 2023–2030.
In his remarks, Vice President Jalloh welcomed the initiative, commending Minister Barlay and her team for their dedication and the momentum driving the process. He described the proposed session as an opportunity to foster mutual understanding, improve collaboration, and address development challenges more effectively.
The Vice President highlighted that the changing development finance landscape requires closer collaboration between NGOs and the government, particularly in aligning efforts with national priorities under the Big Five Game Changers of the MTNDP 2024–2030. He emphasized the importance of effective coordination and noted that the dialogue would focus on three major thematic areas: governance and accountability mechanisms, thematic focus areas for development collaboration, and the formation and methodology of the dialogue platform itself.
The Committee’s mandate includes identifying key thematic areas for discussion during the dialogue, designing the overall format and structure of the session, developing and planning the event including logistics and coordination, ensuring that outcomes are followed up and integrated into policy, and providing policy guidance to ensure that all resolutions align with national laws and development frameworks.
Also present was Eric Massallay, National Director of NGO Affairs, who introduced the committee members and emphasized the critical role of NGOs in national development. He described the dialogue as both timely and necessary to enhance coordination and improve impact.
The Committee has been tasked with organizing the inaugural NGO-Government Dialogue Session, identifying relevant participants and stakeholders, setting the date and agenda for the session.
The inaugural meeting concluded with a shared commitment to move the process forward swiftly and inclusively, in the spirit of genuine partnership for sustainable development in Sierra Leone.
