By: Aminata Sesay
The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the NGO sector as seven newly appointed Country Directors of international non-governmental organizations officially assumed their roles in Sierra Leone.
The welcoming ceremony, held at the Ministry’s conference hall, was led by the Honourable Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Kenyeh Barlay, alongside her Deputy, Rev. Dr. Jonathan Titus-Williams. The event marked a renewed phase of partnership between the government and development actors working to advance Sierra Leone’s national priorities.
Coordinated by Mr. Eric Massallay, Director of NGO Affairs, the engagement served as a platform to formally introduce the new Country Directors and to reemphasize the Ministry’s expectations for alignment, transparency, and accountability in NGO operations. Mr. Massallay compared the event to a diplomatic credentialing process, underscoring that the introduction symbolized mutual respect and recognition between the government and the international development community.
Chairing the session, Mr. Usman Cherry Conteh, Deputy Development Secretary, commended NGOs for their tireless work in underserved communities and their consistent partnership during national crises such as the Ebola outbreak and COVID-19. He reaffirmed MoPED’s recognition of NGOs as “critical partners in service delivery, resilience building, and inclusive development.”
Mrs. Alice Neneh James, Executive Director of SLANGO, praised the Ministry’s continued engagement with the sector and encouraged the new directors to strengthen collaboration with local actors. She highlighted SLANGO’s ongoing institutional reforms aimed at enhancing coordination, transparency, and mutual accountability.
The newly accredited Country Directors presented brief overviews of their organizations’ ongoing and planned interventions, reflecting the breadth of development support across the country. Notable contributions included:
Imagine Worldwide’s Executive Director, Sugandh Juneja, shared the organization’s mission to improve literacy and numeracy through digital learning in over 270 schools, with plans to expand to 4,000 schools within five years.
Emergency ONG’s Jasna Sundic outlined the organization’s 31-year humanitarian work, providing over 700 inpatient services monthly at its Goderich surgical hospital.
World Vision’s Interim Country Director, Philippe Guiton, reaffirmed their focus on child health, education, and food security, noting 29 years of continuous presence in Sierra Leone.
MSF Belgium’s Dr. Htet Aung Kyi cited their solar-powered 164-bed hospital and longstanding role in emergency response since 1986.
Cap Anamur’s Adriana Hansch spoke about their “Pikin Paddy” child reintegration project and health capacity-building initiatives.
ICAP’s Abdul Raheem Yakubu emphasized technical assistance and health system strengthening across 200 facilities in five districts.
Partners In Health (PIH) Executive Director Vicky Reed reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to health system strengthening through its “5S model,” which focuses on staffing, infrastructure, and universal health coverage.
In her keynote address, Hon. Kenyeh Barlay congratulated the new Country Directors and reaffirmed the government’s appreciation for the NGO community’s enduring contribution to national development. She noted that Sierra Leone’s government-NGO relations are constructive and cooperative, built on shared objectives rather than contention.
The Minister urged all partners to align their interventions with the Medium-Term National Development Plan (2024–2030) and the #Big5 Game Changers, particularly in the areas of health, education, and human capital development. She highlighted MoPED’s continuous efforts to enhance coordination through mechanisms such as NGO Week, the District Development Coordination Committees (DDCCs), and the introduction of chiefdom-level development planning to foster local ownership.
Hon. Barlay reaffirmed the Ministry’s dedication to creating an enabling operational environment for NGOs through policy dialogue, tax exemptions, and streamlined registration processes.
In delivering the vote of thanks, Rev. Dr. Jonathan Titus-Williams commended the Country Directors for their commitment to Sierra Leone’s development agenda. He encouraged them to immerse themselves in the country’s local realities and assured them of MoPED’s steadfast support under Minister Barlay’s leadership.