By Hassan Osman Kargbo
The Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Public Administration and Political Affairs in collaboration with the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), successfully hosted the 3rd African High-Level Forum on South-South and Triangular Cooperation for Sustainable Development, where the Minister of Public Administration and Political Affairs noted that Sierra Leone needs to institutionize the South-South cooperation.
The three-day conference, from May 7 to 9, 2025 at the Freetown International Conference Center (Bintumani), was themed “The Role of the Global South in Reshaping the New International Order.”
The high-profile event brought together key development partners, government officials, international delegates, and stakeholders from across the Global South to deliberate on the evolving role of South-South and Triangular Cooperation in achieving Sustainable Development Goals and reshaping global power dynamics.
Delivering his opening remarks, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Public Administration and Political Affairs, Mr. Amara Kallon, emphasized the benefits the country has gained from South-South partnerships over the years.
He noted that the country needs to institutionalize the South-South Cooperation for more goodies that the country would experience.
He highlighted China’s pivotal role, noting that hundreds of Sierra Leonean students have benefited from scholarships and educational exchanges with Chinese institutions. Similarly, he applauded India’s continued contribution to Sierra Leone’s education and capacity-building sectors.
However, Minister Kallon was candid about the shortcomings in maximizing the full impact of such partnerships, pointing out that Sierra Leone has not adequately tracked or documented the various interventions and outcomes resulting from the South-South investments. “We have failed to keep records of the support these countries have given us. We also lack a system to follow up on how our students, who studied abroad, are contributing back to society,” he remarked.
He called for a national strategy to collect and analyze data on the outcomes of South-South cooperation initiatives. According to him, such would not only help the country evaluate the effectiveness of international support but also allow it to better channel resources to areas where they are most impactful.
Minister Kallon also acknowledged the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as a key driver of Global South Cooperation, and urged closer collaboration to ensure that the agency’s contributions translate into tangible development outcomes.
In her keynote address on the final day of the forum, the Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Ms. Kenyeh Barlay, expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Public Administration and Political Affairs for organizing the landmark event.
She reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to leveraging South-South partnerships in key sectors such as agriculture and technology, highlighting the government’s Feed Salone initiative as a shining example of how agricultural development has benefitted from South-South collaboration.
“In agriculture, in education, and in technology, we are seeing the fruits of these partnerships. The South-South Cooperation has brought a lot of ‘goodies’ to Sierra Leone; and it is up to us to make the most of them,” Minister Barlay said.
She encouraged development partners to maintain and expand their support, noting that the momentum built through such collaboration is yielding visible progress.
Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh officially closed the conference by extending appreciation on behalf of President Julius Maada Bio and the people of Sierra Leone.
He thanked all participants and international partners for their presence and engagement, stating that the country is honoured to have hosted such an impactful gathering.
“We are proud as a nation to welcome stakeholders from across the world to witness the progress Sierra Leone is making. We are committed to working with development partners—especially in the Global South—to unlock more opportunities for our people,” Dr. Jalloh stated. He emphasized the government’s readiness to tap into global expertise and investment to further the country’s development goals.
The forum concluded with renewed pledges of collaboration and calls for actionable outcomes. Delegates underscored the importance of data-driven strategies, inclusive partnerships, and knowledge sharing in driving the South-South agenda forward.
As Sierra Leone continues to position itself as a strategic partner within the Global South, the 3rd African High-Level Forum served as a testament to the country’s growing diplomatic and development aspirations.
