By: Mamajah Jalloh
The Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, has officially launched the South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTrC) Strategic Plan 2026–2030, aimed at strengthening coordination, partnerships, knowledge and technology exchange, and resource mobilization in support of the country’s development priorities.
The plan was launched on 17 September 2026 at Brookfields Hotel in Freetown under the theme “From the Freetown Declaration to Delivery.” The event brought together representatives from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), development partners, the private sector, civil society and other stakeholders.
The ceremony was chaired by Deputy Development Secretary I, Usman Cherry Conteh, who welcomed participants and underscored the importance of the Strategic Plan in providing a coordinated national approach to South-South and Triangular Cooperation.
He called for a shift from commitments to delivery and encouraged stakeholders to actively engage with the plan and support its implementation in advancing Sierra Leone’s development priorities.
Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Planning and Economic Development Kenyeh Barlay said the Strategic Plan provides a structured framework for translating the commitments of the Freetown Declaration into practical development results.
She noted that the plan is aligned with the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) 2024–2030 and the Government’s Big Five Game Changers.
Minister Barlay said South-South and Triangular Cooperation could provide Sierra Leone with access to technology, expertise, peer learning and strategic partnerships.
She called on MDAs to nominate and empower focal points and take ownership of cooperation opportunities within their respective sectors.
The Minister stressed the need to move from commitments to measurable results and improve the visibility of cooperation initiatives. She also emphasized the importance of ensuring that the benefits of development cooperation reach women, young people, persons with disabilities and vulnerable communities.
The UNDP Resident Representative, Frederick Amissah, said the Strategic Plan provides the national architecture needed to translate the momentum of the Freetown Declaration into coordinated action.
He highlighted the importance of South-South and Triangular Cooperation in providing access to tested solutions, technology, skills, knowledge and strategic partnerships.
Amissah reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to supporting the Government in implementing the plan and strengthening the capacity of the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Directorate, while maintaining government leadership and ownership.
The Director of South-South and Triangular Cooperation, Robert Andrew Ganda, outlined four strategic areas of the plan: strengthening coordination and governance; connecting resources to national opportunities; facilitating knowledge, technology and partnership exchange; and improving communication and visibility.
He said the 2026 priorities include establishing coordination mechanisms and MDA focal points, developing standard operating procedures, improving information sharing and creating a national partnership and resource database.
According to Ganda, the implementation milestones will run through 2030.
The Minister of Public Administration and Political Affairs, Amara Kallon, welcomed the launch and recalled his Ministry’s role in coordinating the 2025 High-Level Forum, which produced the Freetown Declaration.
He stressed that the Directorate should coordinate and broker cooperation, while sector MDAs should retain ownership of technical implementation.
Representatives from various MDAs also raised questions and shared perspectives on institutional arrangements, coordination mechanisms and practical approaches to strengthening South-South and Triangular Cooperation in Sierra Leone.