The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, (MFAIC) on the 29th of June 2024, successfully completed its two-day Staff Retreat and Stakeholders Consultation Workshop at the Lungi International Airport Conference hall in Lungi.
With the theme: Promoting Sierra Leone’s Foreign Policy through Transformative Service Delivery, the Ministry and its stakeholders deliberated the importance of the workshop in advancing Sierra Leone’s diplomatic relations and promoting the country’s interests on the international stage.
In her welcoming note, the Director-General and Ambassador at-Large, Dr. Victoria M. Sulimani welcomed representatives from the various Ministries Departments and Agencies for being part of the deliberation, noting their vital contributions in furthering the mandate of the ministry.
Chairing the session, the Presidential Governance Adviser, Dr Emmaneul Gaima underscored the need for a transformative service delivery in promoting Sierra Leone’s foreign policy through active participation, dialogue, and admonished staff in the ministry to support the leadership in the ministry.
Outlining the successes of the Ministry, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Alhaji Musa Timothy Kabba commended his Deputy, the Director General and staff of the Ministry for their tremendous support and contributions in making his one-year in the ministry a success.
Minister Kabba said that Sierra Leone’s presence on global peace and security at the United Nations Security Council and other international organizations, is a testament of how far the country has come in consolidating its democratic values. He entreated every directorate and unit in the Ministry to keep working in line with the country’s Foreign Policies.
Emphasizing the need for diplomatic training, the Foreign Affairs Minister, underscored the dire need for MDAs to be trained on protocol and International best practices at the Foreign Service Academy. This he said would enable them to know the mandates of the Ministry and Sierra Leone’s Foreign policies.
He thanked the United Nations Development Programme for their strong partnership and support to the government of Sierra Leone and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in particular, noting the significant support of UNDP and other international partners to Sierra Leone at the UN Security Council.
The Resident Minister Northwest, Ambassador Umaru Bond Wurie, thanked the ministry for choosing his region for such a strategic engagement with stakeholders and development partners.
Ambassador Wurie, highlighted the crucial role of the Local Government Ministry in the implementation of every multilateral and bilateral agreement the country enters into, noting the need for a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative, Fredrick Ampiah, said that the UNDP and Foreign Affairs Ministry share a common goal of creating a comprehensive five-year strategic plan to boost institutional performance, ensure effective services, and measure the impact of their strategic interventions.
This according to Frederick Ampiah is crucial for building a stronger, more effective Foreign Ministry that can represent Sierra Leone’s interests globally with distinction and integrity, noting that the outcome of the retreat will shape the future of the Ministry and the country’s diplomatic efforts.
Mr. Ampiah underscored the opportunities of such a retreat as it identifies key strategic focus areas that will guide the Ministry’s activities over the next five years, align with national priorities and international obligations, and strengthen oversight and accountability by developing robust policies, procedures, and reporting systems to ensure effective performance in executing Sierra Leone’s diplomatic mandates.
“The trust you have placed in UNDP has paved the way for a long-lasting relationship and shared interests. Our partnership is a testament to what we can achieve together—leveraging our combined expertise and resources to build a brighter future for Sierra Leone on the global stage,” he said.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Francess Piagie Alghali, spoke on Sierra Leone’s vision and foreign policies based on building alliances and creating impact on the global stage.
She commended the various directorates and units in the Ministry for their outstanding performance and admonished them to do more for the people of Sierra Leone.
The Acting Executive Director of the Foreign Service Academy, (FSA) Ambassador Soulay Daramy, highlighted the mandate and functions of the FSA as it exists to build the human capacity of the Foreign Service workforce in international languages and diplomatic training.
The session was climaxed by presentations from the Judiciary, Public Sector Reform Unit, Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, Ministry of Finance, and the various directorates and units in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
