By: James Kamara-Manneh
In a significant event held at the Atlantic Lumley Hotel in Freetown, Madam Kenyeh Barlay, the Minister of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) of Sierra Leone, led a crucial consultation on the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Programme Document (CPD) for the period spanning 2025 to 2030.
Minister Barlay commenced the session by expressing gratitude to the assembled stakeholders for their participation, underlining the enduring partnership between Sierra Leone’s government and the UNDP. This partnership, she emphasized, has been instrumental in propelling inclusive governance, sustainable development, and resilience within the nation.
The Minister stressed the timeliness of the consultation against the backdrop of preparations for Sierra Leone’s fourth Voluntary National Review (VNR) at the UN High-Level Political Forum scheduled for July 2024.
A focal point of Minister Barlay’s address was Sierra Leone’s strategic trajectory as delineated in the recently introduced Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) for the years 2024 to 2030. This plan hinges on the government’s “Big Five Game Changers,” with a spotlight on bolstering agricultural productivity, human capital development, youth employment, infrastructure development, and public service transformation.
Aligning the MTNDP with the impending GOSL-UNDP CPD, Minister Barlay emphasized critical enablers such as economic diversification, governance enhancement, climate resilience, gender mainstreaming, and financing strategies.
Moreover, she underscored the anticipated role of the UNDP in mobilizing resources, empowering youth, and advancing gender equality, expressing confidence in the strategic guidance provided by the MTNDP in shaping the CPD. The Minister emphasized the necessity of collaboration and consultation with various stakeholders, including Parliamentarians, Development Partners, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Youth, and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
Throughout the consultation, participants delved into pivotal documents informing the CPD formulation, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), UN Common Country Assessment, SDG Acceleration Roadmap, and National Budget Statement.
In conclusion, Minister Barlay extended gratitude to all participants for their valuable contributions and reiterated the paramount importance of inclusive governance, sustainable development, and resilience in shaping Sierra Leone’s developmental trajectory.
The workshop fostered discussions on various aspects, including an overview of the MTNDP 2024-2030, strategic areas of the UNSDCF 2025-2030, UNDP strategic priorities, and CPD focus areas for 2025-2030. It served as a platform for collaboration and consensus-building towards fostering a resilient and prosperous Sierra Leone.
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