By: Saidu Jalloh
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Planning and Economic Development and African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Focal Point, Madam Kenyeh Barlay, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing governance reforms and institutional resilience. She made this declaration while officially opening a three-day APRM Technical Training Workshop in Freetown.
The workshop, taking place from 16–18 September 2025, brings together key stakeholders from the APRM Continental Secretariat, the National Governing Council, the APRM National Secretariat, various ministries, departments, agencies, civil society organizations, and governance experts. Its primary objective is the popularization and domestication of the Revised Country Self-Assessment Questionnaire (CSAQ) and its updated methodology.
In her keynote address, Minister Barlay described the event as “a defining moment in Sierra Leone’s APRM journey.” She emphasized that the revised CSAQ is not just a technical instrument but “a strategic mirror through which we examine our governance systems, assess institutional resilience, and chart a course toward inclusive and sustainable development.”
She commended President Julius Maada Bio for his directive on 19 June 2025, which repositioned the APRM National Secretariat under the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development. Minister Barlay described the move as “a visionary act of institutional alignment,” noting that it has already led to enhanced coordination, improved policy integration, and renewed momentum for governance reforms.
Outlining the Ministry’s strategic priorities, Madam Barlay reiterated MoPED’s dedication to strengthening the APRM National Secretariat, integrating APRM findings into the National Development Plan, mobilizing resources for country reviews and progress reports, and enhancing inter-ministerial collaboration.
She pledged that Sierra Leone aims to become a continental model for participatory governance and peer learning.
The workshop is designed to deepen participants’ understanding of the APRM’s five core thematic areas: democracy and political governance, economic governance and management, corporate governance, socio-economic development, and state resilience. It also provides practical tools for conducting credible national self-assessments.
Minister Barlay also expressed gratitude to the APRM Continental Secretariat, led by Ambassador Marie-Antoinette Rose Quatre, for its ongoing partnership and technical support. She encouraged participants to fully engage in the sessions, challenge assumptions, and contribute boldly. “The APRM is not just a report; it is a reform movement and Sierra Leone is proud to be at its forefront,” she declared.
Established in 2003 as an African Union initiative for voluntary self-assessment, the APRM has evolved to also monitor governance progress in line with Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The revised CSAQ, last updated in 2012, now addresses emerging global and regional priorities such as illicit financial flows, migration, climate change, food security, digital governance and resilience to shocks, including pandemics.
Supported by the APRM Continental Secretariat and other partners, the ongoing training seeks to build institutional capacity, promote best practices among member states, and ensure the effective application of the revised CSAQ both in traditional and digital formats. By the end of the workshop, participants are expected to be fully equipped to conduct robust, evidence-based governance assessments aligned with continental and global standards.
