At the Global Partnerships Conference in London, Minister of Finance, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, called on development partners to act urgently in supporting developing countries to mitigate the impact of the ongoing Middle East crisis.
The Minister participated in the high-level conference at the invitation of Baroness Chapman, Minister of International Development of the Government of the United Kingdom, from 19-20 May 2026 in London.
The conference brought together representatives from countries around the world to establish new partnerships and outline the United Kingdom’s renewed approach to international development, as the crisis in the Middle East continues to affect global energy supplies and food security.
Discussions focused on the implications of the Iran crisis on fertiliser markets, global food security, and the international response required to address these challenges.
Participants included the UK Minister of State for International Development and Africa, Rt. Hon. Baroness Chapman; the Interim Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Nick Dyer; the President of the African Development Bank Group, Sidi Ould Tah; several African ministers responsible for finance and development; representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Food Programme, the World Bank, other international financial institutions, and private sector stakeholders.
Speaking during the session on “Outcomes-Based Financing: Modern Partnerships, Strengthened Results and Value for Money,” Minister Bangura warned that the Middle East crisis could reverse Sierra Leone’s significant progress in maintaining macroeconomic stability over the past two years.
He emphasized the importance of incorporating citizens’ voices into policymaking to ensure that development interventions achieve meaningful and measurable outcomes.
Minister Bangura also urged the UK Government to use the current global challenge as an opportunity to demonstrate international leadership by increasing support to developing nations.
He noted that the Middle East crisis poses a serious threat to developing countries, many of which will now be forced to seek alternative sources for fertiliser, ammonia, and urea. According to the Minister, Sierra Leone’s dependence on imports makes the country particularly vulnerable, as rising prices and limited access to fertiliser could threaten food security and social stability.
He therefore called on development partners to respond urgently by providing emergency concessional financing and supporting a coordinated international approach to the procurement and equitable distribution of essential agricultural inputs among developing countries.
Minister Bangura also participated in the Fiscal Resilience Roundtable, where discussions focused on how development partners can support countries in strengthening domestic revenue mobilisation, improving expenditure efficiency, and enhancing debt management through better-coordinated international assistance.
On the sidelines of the conference, the Minister held bilateral meetings with Sidi Ould Tah, Mr. Phil Stevens, Director for International Finance at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and Mr. Leslie Maasdorp, Chief Executive Officer of British International Investment (BII).