NaCSA Commissioner Affirms Sierra Leone’s Commitment to Global Refugee Challenges at GRF 2023 in Geneva

The Commissioner of the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA), Ambassador Ernest Mbaimba Ndomahina, has on the 14^th December, 2023 pledged Sierra Leone’s Support To The Global Refugee Challenges at the ongoing Second Global Refugee Forum (GRF) 2023 at the Palexpo Complex in Geneva, Switzerland

It was done for and on behalf of the president on the bid to effectively and efficiently address the numerous challenges faced by refugees around the world.

The event is held every four years, and is the world’s largest international gathering on refugees that is designed to support the practical implementation of the objectives set out in the Global Compact on Refugees: Ease pressures on host countries, enhance refugee self-reliance, increase access to third-country solutions and improve conditions in countries of origin.

The commissioner highlighted the progress made by the Government of Sierra Leone, shared the experience and good practices in handling refugee issues, and outlined some of the challenges and opportunities ahead.

“Today”, Commissioner Ndomahina said, “the world is becoming less safe because of conflicts and instabilities coupled with the threat we face from the climate crisis. These and many other societal factors are pushing people, families, and whole communities out of their homes, and more often now than ever before, forcefully”.

Making his pledge, the commissioner also noted certain thongs to be considered ranging from implement the adopted National Action Plan on Statelessness to ensure that by 2026 80% of persons identified at risk of becoming stateless persons are regularized, Fostering increased access to social rights through access to documentation and inclusion into the Productive Social Safety-Nets and Youth Employment Project to at least 1,500 persons by 2026,  Mobilizing millions of dollars to implement 93 socio-economic infrastructure projects identified in 19 refugee host communities for the full implementation of “Tenki Salon” project by 2024-2026 to foster a sustainable inclusion of refugees in host communities in the South-eastern and North-western Regions and Securing sustainable access to land in order to reinforce social inclusion for 3500 forcibly displaced in protracted situation by 2025/26

He called on the UNHCR, ECOWAS and other international organizations to support the Government of Sierra Leone to access funds from global donors and international agencies for the full implementation of the “Tenki Salon” project and other pledges tendered for a sustainable phase-out of the remaining caseload of refugees with an effective and efficient road map to compensate host community based programmes, a critical part of the five Game Changers of His Excellency the President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s immediate priorities.