On 10th September 2023, Hon. Amara Kallon, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Public Administration and Political Affairs, who doubles as APRM National Focal Point and Chairperson of APR Committee of Focal Points, delivered a keynote address at the APRM Annual High-level Meeting on National Development Planning Community of Practice in Cairo, Egypt.
In his statement, Minister Kallon emphasized Sierra Leone’s dedication to implementing Agenda 2063 and Agenda 2030, with a history of reporting to the United Nations and the Africa Union Commission on progress. Despite achievements in aligning Sierra Leone’s National Development Plan (NDP) with these agendas, challenges persist, including resource mobilization and the need for robust public institutions.
Minister Kallon also acknowledged the support and guidance required from countries like Egypt, which have faced similar challenges and developed innovative solutions. In his statement, the Minister revealed that Sierra Leone has benefited from APRM reviews, particularly in response to COVID-19 and the Unconstitutional Change of Government, which have generated recommendations to strengthen its national health system and the need for further reforms to enhance public service and institutional efficiency.
The Minister announced ongoing discussions with the Egyptian Government regarding benchmarking and capacity-building opportunities for Sierra Leone’s national civil service. This collaboration, initiated with the support of the APRM Continental Secretariat, aims to leverage Egypt’s experiences and best practices to address key development challenges in Sierra Leone.
In conclusion, Minister Kallon praised the warm hospitality of Egypt and its willingness to support Sierra Leone’s public reforms. He emphasized that this partnership is just the beginning of stronger collaboration within the APRM Family and extends an invitation to other nations willing to participate in this peer-learning process. Sierra Leone is keen on forging a partnership with Egypt to advance its national development goals and learn from the experiences of fellow African nations.