MoPED Opens 29th West Africa Experts’ Session in Freetown, Calls for Action on Youth Employment
Sahid Bangura The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) has opened the 29th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee of Senior Officials and Experts (ICSOE) for West Africa in Freetown, bringing together regional policymakers, development experts and international partners to discuss strategies for addressing youth unemployment and accelerating economic transformation.
The three-day meeting, which commenced on Wednesday, 28 October 2026 in Freetown, is being held under the theme, “Unlocking the Potential of Young People in West Africa: Pathways to Employment, Economic Transformation and Resilience.”
Minister of Planning and Economic Development Kenyeh Barlay delivered the keynote address on behalf of Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, welcoming delegates and highlighting the importance of investing in the region’s young population.
Barlay described young people as West Africa’s greatest asset, stressing that governments must prioritise skills development, healthcare and enterprise support to enable them to contribute meaningfully to economic growth.
She warned that failing to create opportunities for young people could deepen frustration, drug abuse and irregular migration, urging regional experts to develop practical solutions that address these challenges.
Highlighting Sierra Leone’s development priorities, Barlay said the government’s Medium-Term National Development Plan 2024–2030 places human capital development at the centre of its agenda, with youth employment identified as one of the Big Five Game Changers.
She noted that the government aims to create at least 500,000 jobs for young people by 2030 through its Youth Employment Scheme, alongside investments in education, technical and vocational training, agriculture and other productive sectors.
The minister also highlighted the contribution of the Free Quality School Education programme and the Feed Salone initiative to human capital development and employment creation.
However, she acknowledged that underemployment, informal work, limited access to finance, skills mismatches and climate-related challenges continue to constrain employment opportunities across the subregion.
Barlay called on delegates to move beyond discussions and develop measurable commitments with clear targets, timelines and accountability mechanisms.
She urged the meeting to produce an action-oriented Freetown Declaration on youth empowerment, encouraging participating countries to commit to practical measures that improve employment prospects and economic opportunities for young people.
Director of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Subregional Office for West Africa, Ngone Diop, also emphasised the need to connect investments in education and skills with productive employment and broader economic transformation.
The meeting is expected to provide a platform for regional cooperation and policy recommendations aimed at unlocking the economic potential of West Africa’s growing youth population.
