The Deputy Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Rev. Dr. Jonathan Titus-Williams, at the 2022 hybrid plenary discussion on Effective Development Co-operation Summit in Geneva has indicated that the government has taken significant steps in promoting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at local and international levels in Sierra Leone through the Medium Term National Development Plan.
The Mid Term development plan explains the path to the goal of Sierra Leone achieving middle-income status by 2030 through inclusive growth in a sustainable manner by leaving no one behind.
During the hybrid plenary discussion of the 2022 Effective Development Co-operation Summit, which allowed panelists to speak on the topic “Fostering Collective Efforts for Sustainable Development Impact, Focusing on Joint Results as a Lever for a Global Recovery: Leaving No One Behind”, Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Development, stated that Sierra Leone has prioritized the seventeen (17) United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which addresses several issues on the lives of the people as well as the state of implementation of the various policies, programs and activities of the SDGs.
“My country had a very successful inclusive country dialogue that brought together key development actors. Improving coordination of all development partners around a shared agenda, because it helps strengthen country ownership and reduces transaction costs and inefficiencies”, he added.
He went further to say that the inclusive dialogue meeting that was held in Freetown in the first quarter of 2022, helped in identifying the joint work of government Agencies and development partners.
Dr. Titus-Williams also informed the gathering that, the government sees the urgent need for better-quality support from the development partner community. He reiterated that if they are going to deliver together for the Sierra Leonean people, and to preserve the natural wealth of the country, several actions should be taken into consideration following the country’s dialogue session.
Firstly, we are working on improving our development cooperation architecture and governance, by reviewing our Development Cooperation Framework document to make it fit for purpose and effectively mobilize and coordinate with our international and domestic development partners.
Secondly, partners must join us in streamlining development coordination mechanisms, to avoid duplication, fragmentation, and lack of whole-of-government coherence.
NATCA RECOLLECTS 2022 SCHEDULE IN ANNUAL BOARD AND MANAGEMENT RETREAT
The National Telecommunications Authority (NATCA), formerly known as the National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM) on Wednesday 14th December, 2022 to Thursday 15th December, 2022 held its Annual Board and Management Strategic Retreat at the prestigious Shangri-La complex hall at the Aberdeen/Lumley Beach. The retreat is said to be one of strategic planning, involving members of the Board of Directors and Senior Management team of the Authority.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors, Ambassador Joseph C. Bell in a well delivered opening statement did set the tone for the deliberations at the retreat, pivoting on the transition of the regulatory body from a Commission to an Authority. The lead facilitator for this retreat is Dr. Emmanuel Gaima (Governance Specialist), ably assisted by Karmoh C. Conteh and Murra Boima (M & E Specialist).
The retreat is organized in the form of phases which included; Executive presentation including key strategic priorities for 2023, Departmental presentations on specific organizational programmes and a review and adoption of the Strategic Plan for 2023 and beyond.
Director-General of NatCA, Daniel B. Kaitibi, disclosed that the overarching objective of the retreat is to discuss the transformational drive from a Commission to an Authority, Departmental work plans, review and agree a Strategic Plan for the Authority and a review of the achievements and challenges of 2022 and to set the corporate agenda and priority programs for 2023 and beyond. The DG continued by dilating on specific objectives which among others included the following:
To allow the Board to communicate the strategic and policy goals to be pursued by the Senior Management Team “SMT” and to set broad output areas that need to be pursued thereon and beyond as a result of the statutory transition
To allow members of the ‘SMT’ propose specific regulatory reforms and priority programs to be implemented in 2023 in accordance with the National Communications Authority Act 2022
To discuss the budgetary implications of the programs outlined in the AWP for 2023 and;
To develop a framework for the Authority’s performance management as well as monitoring & evaluation of the regulatory reforms outlined.
The workshop is structured into three (3) segments for deliberations.
Firstly, an executive presentation by the DG on the strategic priorities for 2023 and beyond. The goal is to synthesize very clear priorities for 2023 and beyond, which shall be the focus of discussions in the second segment. Secondly, a series of presentations by Heads of Departments to the Board on important issues and priorities for 2023 and beyond the final segment shall be to exclusively review and adopt a Strategic Plan for the Authority.
It shall be a five-year Strategic Plan ranging from the period 2023 – 2028.
