By: Audrey Raymonda John
The Ministry of Finance has commenced a high-level consultative workshop on the development of Sierra Leone’s first Fiscal Risk Strategy (FRS) Statement, a key milestone in enhancing fiscal transparency, economic resilience, and long-term public financial management.
The three-day workshop began on Wednesday, 17th September 2025, at the Leisure Lodge Hotel, Aberdeen, Freetown, and is expected to conclude on Friday, 19th September 2025. The session brings together participants from the Ministry of Finance, Bank of Sierra Leone (BSL), National Revenue Authority (NRA), Public-Private Partnership Unit (PPP), and civil society organizations.
In her welcome address, Senior Deputy Financial Secretary (SDFS) Mariatu Browne described the Fiscal Risk Strategy Statement as a transformative step towards providing a comprehensive and independent assessment of fiscal risks. These include contingent liabilities, climate-related risks, policy preparedness, and institutional vulnerabilities.
“This strategy will facilitate dialogue between government, private sector actors, and development partners,” Madam Browne stated. “It also aims to build institutional understanding, strengthen technical capacity for fiscal risk analysis, and improve interagency data systems and collaboration.”
Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Finance II, Madam Jenneh Jabati, emphasized that the initiative represents a defining moment in Sierra Leone’s fiscal governance journey, signaling reform, innovation, and a national commitment to sound economic management.
She pointed out that the current fiscal environment is increasingly uncertain, shaped by factors such as economic volatility, climate change, public health shocks, natural disasters, and the fiscal instability of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
“The development of a dedicated, standalone Fiscal Risk Strategy Statement is a bold demonstration of the government’s commitment to fiscal transparency, accountability, and long-term economic resilience,” she noted.
Dr. Alhassan Mansaray, Director of the Fiscal Risk Division, presented a detailed overview of the workshop’s focus areas. These include macroeconomic shocks, governance and institutional challenges, climate-related threats and revenue volatility and expenditure pressures, debt sustainability, budget risks and political polarization, corruption and social vulnerabilities and strategic policy recommendations for improving fiscal resilience.
The consultative workshop is expected to lay the foundation for developing a robust Fiscal Risk Strategy that not only strengthens public financial management but also supports evidence-based policymaking in Sierra Leone.