By: Aminata Sesay
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged the Government of Sierra Leone to significantly increase investments in programs that support children’s welfare and rights. The appeal was made during a media briefing held on Monday at the UNICEF Country Office in New England Ville, Freetown, as part of activities commemorating the 2025 Day of the African Child.
The event, themed “Planning and Budgeting for Children’s Rights: Progress Since 2010,” brought together journalists, child rights advocates, and policy experts to assess Sierra Leone’s progress in budgeting for child welfare over the past 15 years.
In his keynote statement, Rudolf Schwenk, UNICEF Representative in Sierra Leone, emphasized the country’s demographic advantage, noting that nearly half of the population is under the age of 18. He highlighted this as a unique opportunity for national development, provided the government channels sufficient investments into education, healthcare, and child protection services.
“Too many children are still being left behind due to poverty, weak services, and inadequate protection mechanisms,” Schwenk said.
He acknowledged existing government initiatives such as the Free Quality School Education (FQSE) program and the Social Safety Net (SSN) but pointed out that only 2% of the population currently benefits from social protection programs.
UNICEF’s Social Policy Specialist, Sabatine Akongwate, presented four key recommendations to accelerate progress: Institutionalize child-focused budgeting at all levels of government, strengthen data systems for better transparency and accountability, expand the reach of social protection programs and allocate at least 1% of the national budget to child protection initiatives.
She noted that malnutrition, poverty, and limited access to essential services remain significant barriers to children’s well-being in the country.
Suzanne Wooster, UNICEF’s Chief of Communication, Advocacy, and Partnerships, emphasized the crucial role the media plays in advancing child rights.
“Your voices matter. Journalists have a critical role in raising awareness and ensuring transparency in how resources for children are allocated and spent,” she told reporters.
UNICEF also shared data showing the high return on investment in child-focused programs, noting that every dollar spent on immunization yields up to $44 in benefits. Despite this, vital sectors such as health and water remain underfunded, with health receiving just 8% of the national budget.
As Sierra Leone joins other African countries in commemorating the Day of the African Child, UNICEF reiterated its call for stronger policy implementation, increased funding, and meaningful partnerships to ensure that every child has the resources and opportunities needed to thrive.