The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), through its Rural Development Directorate (RDD), has advanced efforts to formulate Sierra Leone’s first dedicated Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) Policy, following a technical committee meeting held in Freetown on Monday, August 31, 2026.

The meeting, held at the MoPED Conference Hall at Tower Hill, brought together senior government officials, representatives of local councils, civil society and non-governmental organisations, as well as other development stakeholders to review progress and agree on key steps towards completing the policy.

Development Secretary Ambrose James said the proposed policy is not intended to restrict CBOs but to establish a framework that recognises their contributions, strengthens their institutional capacity and improves coordination between them, government and other development actors.

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He described the initiative as an opportunity to make history, noting that Sierra Leone has never had a dedicated national policy for CBOs. He reaffirmed MoPED’s commitment to the process and urged stakeholders to maintain strong collaboration to meet the December 2026 completion target.

Director of Rural Development, Mrs. M’balu Kamara, stressed the need for an inclusive and practical policy that reflects the realities, needs and development priorities of communities.

The Director of the Development Assistance Coordination Office (DACO), Haja Abie Kamara, also highlighted the importance of effective coordination and partnerships in mobilising the resources required to advance the policy process.

Representing the NGO community, Trócaire’s Partnership and Localization Manager, Braima Sellu, outlined progress in resource mobilisation, partnership building and preparations for nationwide consultations. He noted that NGOs had also contributed to the review of the consultant’s Terms of Reference, budget and work plan.

Trócaire Country Director George Were reaffirmed the NGO community’s commitment to providing financial and technical support, while SLANGO Board Chair Christian Martin Kamara pledged continued support from national and international NGOs and emphasised the importance of ensuring meaningful participation by CBOs throughout the process.

Following deliberations, the committee agreed to conduct consultations through two teams operating simultaneously across different geographical areas to accelerate the process. The teams will receive a common orientation to ensure consistency in consultation tools, questions and messaging.

The committee also agreed to fast-track the recruitment of a consultant through a four-member team comprising two MoPED representatives and two representatives from the NGO community. September 15, 2026, was set as the deadline for resource mobilisation from the NGO sector.

Stakeholders further agreed to develop public communication materials, including radio jingles, flyers and local-language messages, to improve community understanding and participation in the policy process.

An updated implementation timeline covering consultant recruitment, consultations, drafting, validation and finalisation of the policy is expected to be developed and circulated to committee members.

Closing the meeting, Development Secretary Ambrose James thanked stakeholders for their commitment and reiterated the importance of collaboration and adherence to agreed timelines.

“Collaboration is the key. If we coordinate and collaborate properly, we can achieve the results we want,” he said.

The meeting represents a significant step towards establishing Sierra Leone’s first national policy framework for CBOs, with the aim of strengthening their contribution to community development while improving coordination among CBOs, local councils, government institutions and development partners.