By Hassan Osman Kargbo
The Board Chair of the Sierra Leone Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (SLANGO), Mr Christian Martyn Kamara, has underscored the vital role NGOs continue to play in national development while calling for stronger collaboration with the government to address funding and operational challenges confronting the sector.
Speaking during the NGO Dialogue Day held at the Brookfields Hotel in Freetown on Thursday, Mr Martyn Kamara presented a detailed analysis of NGO activities across the country. He said NGOs have made significant contributions in improving health care delivery, enhancing education, promoting gender equality, advancing agriculture, and ensuring access to clean water and sanitation.
According to Mr Kamara, there are currently 209 development projects being implemented nationwide by more than 62 local and international NGOs. These projects, he explained, reflect the collective commitment of the NGO community to complement the government’s development priorities and improve the lives of citizens.
Breaking down the data, Mr Martyn revealed that 59 of the ongoing projects are in the health sector, 28 in agriculture, 27 in water and sanitation, 26 in gender empowerment, 25 in social welfare, and 24 in education. He said these initiatives have contributed immensely to human capital development and community resilience across Sierra Leone.
However, the SLANGO Chair expressed concern over the growing financial constraints facing many organizations, largely due to the scaling down of donor assistance, especially from international partners such as USAID. He disclosed that 18 of the identified projects remain in draft stages as some have received partial funding while others have yet to secure any support at all.
Mr Kamara further revealed that 24 projects have been closed entirely, either because their implementation periods expired or funding was completely withdrawn. He added that only 75 projects are currently considered “very active,” while the remainder are progressing slowly due to resource limitations.
He warned that the reduction in funding could undermine ongoing efforts to achieve sustainable development and urged the government to create an enabling environment for NGOs to operate effectively.
“The collaboration between the government and NGOs must continue to be strengthened,” Martyn said. “We must work hand in hand to ensure that development initiatives reach every community, and that projects already implemented can be sustained even after donor support ends.”
Mr Martyn Kamara commended the government for engaging NGOs in national development planning through platforms such as the Dialogue Day, noting that such engagements promote transparency, coordination, and accountability between state institutions and development partners.
He also called on donors and international partners to reconsider funding cuts, emphasizing that many communities depend on NGO-led interventions for healthcare, education, and livelihoods.
The SLANGO Chair concluded by reaffirming the association’s commitment to fostering effective partnership between civil society and government institutions to build a stronger, fairer, and more resilient Sierra Leone.
