By: Mamajah Jalloh
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO), has engaged Members of Parliament in Freetown to advocate for increased investment in children ahead of the 2027 National Budget.
The engagement, held at Country Lodge Hotel, brought together lawmakers, particularly members of the Committees on Finance, Basic Education, Lands, Legislative and Gender and Children’s Affairs, to discuss ways of strengthening parliamentary oversight, protecting budgetary allocations for children and ensuring the timely disbursement and effective utilization of approved funds.
Discussions focused on improving investment in essential services, including education, healthcare, nutrition, sanitation, social protection and child protection.
In his welcome address, Director of the Parliamentary Budget Office, Ibrahim Jimissa, emphasised the need to prioritize children in national budgetary planning. He noted that government spending decisions directly influence the country’s future and urged lawmakers to utilize budget analysis and parliamentary oversight mechanisms to ensure that public resources reach their intended beneficiaries.
Delivering her remarks, UNICEF Country Representative Mariko Kagoshima highlighted the importance of investing in children, noting that they account for approximately 41 per cent of Sierra Leone’s population, while two in every three children are deprived of at least one basic need.
She expressed concern over the limited funding allocated to child protection, revealing that the annual allocation amounts to approximately US$0.66 per child.
Kagoshima also pointed out that debt servicing accounts for nearly 29 per cent of government expenditure, representing more than twice the education budget and six times the health budget.
She urged Parliament to prioritize investments in education, healthcare, nutrition, sanitation, social protection and child protection in the 2027 National Budget. She also encouraged lawmakers to strengthen oversight to ensure that approved funds are released on time and properly utilized.
She reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to supporting Parliament through evidence-based research, technical assistance and collaboration with relevant government institutions to ensure that public spending translates into meaningful improvements in children’s lives.
Representing the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Director of Gender and Children’s Affairs Daniel Gbao called for increased government funding to address child protection challenges, including child marriage, teenage pregnancy, child labour, violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.
He disclosed that funding for child protection remains below one per cent and called for an increase to more than three per cent to strengthen interventions and improve the welfare of children across the country.
Gbao reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to working with UNICEF, Parliament and other development partners to advance and protect children’s rights.
Meanwhile, Chairman of Parliament’s Finance Committee, Hon. Keikura Christopher Vandy, commended UNICEF for its longstanding support to Sierra Leone, particularly its contributions to parliamentary committees and efforts to improve children’s welfare.
He also acknowledged the Parliamentary Budget Office for its technical support and coordination of fiscal-related engagements.
Hon. Vandy assured UNICEF of Parliament’s commitment to strengthening its oversight responsibilities to ensure that resources allocated to children are properly utilized. However, he explained that limited fiscal space, revenue shortfalls and delays in external financial assistance continue to affect the timely release of funds to government institutions.
He called for stronger collaboration among UNICEF, Parliament and the Executive, particularly the Ministries of Finance and Gender and Children’s Affairs, to ensure that child-focused priorities receive adequate attention during budget preparation and implementation.
The engagement also featured a presentation by Ibrahim Jimissa on Sierra Leone’s macro-fiscal context and its implications for the 2027 National Budget, alongside presentations by UNICEF representatives, followed by discussions among Members of Parliament.
The meeting concluded with renewed calls for stronger collaboration, increased investment in children and effective parliamentary oversight to ensure that national budgetary commitments translate into improved services and better opportunities for every child in Sierra Leone.