By: Saidu Jalloh
The National Social Safety Net (NSSN), in collaboration with the Directorate of Social Protection at the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security, is seeking to strengthen social protection for older persons in Sierra Leone.
The move was discussed during a courtesy visit by officials of the NSSN and the Directorate to the management of the National Social Protection Authority (NSPA) in Freetown on September 29, 2026.
The engagement provided an opportunity for the institutions to strengthen collaboration, share experiences and discuss the future of social protection interventions for older persons.
Welcoming the delegation, NSPA Director-General Abu Bakar Kokofelle stressed the importance of closer coordination between the Authority and the Ministry.
He said effective social protection requires practical experience, strong institutions and coordinated interventions that address vulnerabilities across the different stages of life.
Kokofelle disclosed that the NSPA, in collaboration with UNICEF, is preparing to assess existing social protection institutions, including their programmes, coverage, funding sources and challenges.
He said the findings from the assessment would contribute to the review of Sierra Leone’s National Social Protection Policy and Strategy.
Director of Social Protection Duraman Songo said the NSSN was established about 25 years ago through a Cabinet conclusion to address the welfare and vulnerabilities of older persons, including through cash-transfer interventions.
He explained that social protection covers people across the life cycle, including children, young people, persons of working age and older persons, making coordination among institutions essential.
Songo further disclosed that the Directorate is working to transform the existing NSSN framework from a Cabinet-established unit into a statutory institution, which could take the form of a commission, authority or agency.
He said while the National Ageing Policy provides a framework for addressing the needs of older persons, giving it legal backing would provide a stronger foundation for protecting their rights and delivering services.
“We want to take this unit to another level,” Songo said, adding that a statutory institution dedicated to older persons would be better positioned to implement interventions with a clear legal mandate.
Director of the National Social Safety Net Ibrahim Sheriff Kanu said the unit was established specifically to address the vulnerabilities faced by people aged 60 years and above, who previously lacked a dedicated institution within Sierra Leone’s social protection system.
Kanu said the NSSN’s work is aligned with the life-cycle approach outlined in Sierra Leone’s Social Protection Strategy, which recognizes that different age groups face different forms of vulnerability and require targeted interventions.
He also highlighted the NSSN’s longstanding collaboration with social protection institutions in the development and implementation of policies, strategies and cash-transfer programmes.
For his part, NSPA Director of Programmes and Grants Mohamed Bundu welcomed the proposed strengthening of the NSSN, saying specialized institutions for different vulnerable groups are important to building a stronger social protection system.
He said strengthening institutions responsible for older persons, persons with disabilities, children, women and young people would improve the coordination and delivery of social protection programmes across the country.
The engagement ended with the institutions reaffirming their commitment to sustained collaboration, stronger coordination and institutional development to ensure that older persons and other vulnerable groups receive meaningful and sustainable social protection.
The meeting marks a step towards strengthening cooperation between the Ministry and the NSPA and advancing Sierra Leone’s social protection system to better protect vulnerable people throughout the life cycle.