Sierra Leone strengthened its drive for youth empowerment and private sector development on Tuesday, as the Minister of Youth Affairs met with Dr. Felipe Paullier during a high-level session hosted by the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED).
The meeting was chaired by MoPED’s Development Secretary, Ambrose James, and brought together members of the Youth and Private Sector Development Working Group. This platform is designed to align national priorities with international support for job creation, skills development and youth economic inclusion.
In his welcome remarks, the Deputy Minister of Planning and Economic Development reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the 500,000 youth jobs initiative one of the flagship “Big Five Game Changers” of President Julius Maada Bio. He highlighted the working group’s diverse membership, which includes government ministries, civil society organizations, United Nations agencies and private sector partners, describing it as “a cohesive mechanism for driving collective impact.”
Addressing the session, the Minister of Youth Affairs emphasized that job creation remains central to the government’s development agenda. He stated that the 500,000 jobs initiative is not merely a policy commitment, but a national mission aimed at expanding opportunities for young people through innovation, strategic partnerships and targeted investments.
He also outlined ongoing efforts to broaden access to skills training, entrepreneurship programmes and private sector collaboration to support sustainable employment for youth across the country.
Dr. Paullier commended Sierra Leone’s structured and collaborative approach to youth development, describing the working group as a model for regional coordination. He noted that meaningful progress is achieved when governments, development partners and the private sector work together with a shared purpose.
“The United Nations is encouraged by Sierra Leone’s leadership and remains committed to supporting the country’s ambitious youth employment agenda,” he said, stressing the importance of strong partnerships in delivering scalable and sustainable youth-focused initiatives.
Representatives from the Ministry of Trade, the United Nations Development Programme and the German delegation also reaffirmed their commitment to partnership-driven solutions in enterprise development, investment facilitation and workforce readiness.
The session concluded with stakeholders pledging deeper collaboration to accelerate policy alignment, mobilize resources and coordinate actions aimed at expanding job opportunities for young people nationwide.
With strengthened partnerships and improved coordination mechanisms, Sierra Leone is positioning its youth sector for accelerated transformation and long-term economic growth.
