By Saidu Jalloh
The Minister of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), Madam Kenyeh Barlay, along with the management team, warmly received seven new Country Directors (CD) from various NGOs at the Ministry’s Conference Hall in Tower Hill, Freetown.
In his opening statement, Peter N. Sam-Kpakra, Development Secretary at MoPED, welcomed the Country Directors and commended their supportive role in complementing government efforts, particularly in hard-to-reach communities.
Introducing the Country Directors, Eric Massally, the National Director of NGO Affairs, highlighted their impressive backgrounds in the development sector, humanitarian work, administration, and media development. He emphasized the valuable experience they bring to their respective sectors of operation.
The Country Directors expressed gratitude to the Ministry for creating an enabling environment for NGOs in Sierra Leone. They outlined their responsibilities, areas of work, and commitment to ensuring that their projects are community-led. They eagerly expressed readiness to collaborate with the Ministry and fellow NGOs to enhance the lives of the people of Sierra Leone.
Detailing their interventions across various sectors, the Country Directors highlighted key milestones achieved in education, health, agriculture, youth empowerment, microfinance, and social services. They affirmed their organizations’ continued support for the government in its development endeavors.
In her remarks, Minister Kenyeh Barlay congratulated the Country Directors on their appointments and emphasized the vital role played by NGOs in complementing government efforts. She stressed the expectation for the Country Directors to strengthen the relationship between government and their organizations.
Minister Barlay outlined Sierra Leone’s strategic direction as articulated in the newly launched Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) 2024-2030, focusing on the government’s “Big Five Game Changers.” These priorities include initiatives aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity, human capital development, youth employment, infrastructure development, and public service transformation.
She underscored the alignment between the MTNDP and NGO programs, highlighting key enablers such as economic diversification, governance enhancement, climate resilience, gender mainstreaming, and financing strategies.
Addressing the expected role of NGOs in supporting government priorities, Minister Barlay expressed confidence in the strategic guidance provided by the MTNDP 2024-2030. She emphasized collaboration and consultation with various stakeholders and mentioned tools like the District Development Coordination Committee (DDCC) and NGO Partnership Mapping Tools for effective delivery and minimizing duplication.
Minister Barlay encouraged the NGO community to continue partnering with the government to provide development services, especially in challenging areas of the country.
She concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to providing an enabling environment for NGOs and mentioned policies like the Tax and Duty Free Exemption Act of 2023 and the new Finance Act of 2024, which guarantee waivers for NGOs importing goods for their operations. Additionally, she highlighted the Ministry’s role in policy oversight and effective coordination of NGO activities as recommended by the Development Cooperation Framework.
