By: Mamajah Jalloh
The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), through its Directorate of NGO Affairs, on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, held a high-level meeting between the Minister, Kenyeh Barlay, and senior officials of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, to strengthen cooperation in healthcare delivery, human capital development and humanitarian operations in Sierra Leone.
The meeting brought together Minister Barlay, accompanied by the Director of NGO Affairs, Eric Masallay, and an MSF delegation comprising Deputy Director-General Chantal Krystle of MSF Brussels and Country Director Mr. Giet.
The engagement coincided with the commemoration of MSF’s 40 years of medical humanitarian service in Sierra Leone, marking four decades of operations in the country from 1986 to 2026.
Discussions focused on aligning MSF’s health interventions with the Government’s development priorities under the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) 2024–2030, particularly Game Changer 5.2 on Human Capital Development.
Particular attention was given to MSF’s 220-bed Kenema Mother and Child Hospital and the MSF Healthcare Academy, which are expected to support healthcare delivery and strengthen the skills and capacity of health professionals in Sierra Leone.
Minister Barlay reaffirmed MoPED’s commitment to supporting the final legislative ratification of MSF’s Host Country Agreement (HCA) by Parliament. The agreement is expected to provide a stronger framework for the organization’s continued operations and contribution to the country’s healthcare sector.
To deepen collaboration and assess progress on the ground, MoPED’s leadership is expected to undertake an official working visit to the MSF Kenema Hospital complex and Healthcare Academy.
The engagement highlights MoPED’s efforts, through the Directorate of NGO Affairs, to strengthen partnerships with development and humanitarian organizations and ensure that their programmes align with national development priorities, particularly the Government’s human capital development agenda.