By: Mamajah Jalloh
The National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) has proposed a NLe187.8 million budget for the 2027 financial year to strengthen social protection programmes and expand support to vulnerable households across Sierra Leone.
The proposal was presented alongside that of the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) during the ongoing Bilateral Budget Hearings, chaired by Deputy Minister of Finance I and Acting Minister of Finance, Madam Kadiatu Allie, alongside Deputy Director of Budget, Jacob Tenga Sessie.
NSPA presented a proposed FY2027 budget of NLe187, 825,410, comprising NLe4.935 million for administrative and operational costs, NLe12.807 million for programme coordination, NLe155.307 million for Reform Measure 5, which focuses on the Digital Social Protection Registry, and NLe14.776 million for Reform Measure 6, aimed at expanding social protection coverage to 100,000 households in climate-vulnerable areas.
The agency said its priorities for 2027 include nationwide sensitization on the NSPA Act 2025, reviewing the National Social Protection Strategy and related policy documents, mapping social protection programmes and partners, and establishing an interoperable National Social Registry linked to the National Identification Number (NIN).
Other priorities include strengthening monitoring and feedback systems, establishing an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system and call centre, improving donor coordination and mobilizing additional resources for social protection programmes.
Meanwhile, NaCSA’s presentation focused on project implementation and financial performance.
The Commission reported total donor commitments of US$171.44 million, of which US$153.21 million, representing 87 percent, had been disbursed as of August 2026, leaving US$16.61 million undisbursed.
Government contributions across NaCSA programmes amounted to SLe537.95 million, of which SLe134.18 million, representing 23 percent, had been received, leaving an undisbursed balance of SLe403.77 million.
NaCSA also reported that only NLe4.4 million of its NLe10 million recurrent allocation for 2025 had been received.
For FY2027, NaCSA outlined several key deliverables, including emergency cash transfers to 30,000 beneficiaries, temporary employment for 22,000 youths, training and grants for 1,000 young people, and the construction of 50 social infrastructure projects.
The Commission also plans to rehabilitate 23.57 kilometres of feeder roads in Bonthe and Moyamba districts and secure approval for the Sierra Leone Community-Driven Development (SLCDD) III programme.
The Bilateral Budget Hearing provided an opportunity for NSPA and NaCSA to present their proposed activities, funding requirements, implementation challenges and expected deliverables for FY2027, with discussions focusing on aligning expenditure proposals with government priorities, available resources and measurable development outcomes.