Finance Ministry, UNICEF Review Budget Support for Children and Persons With Disabilities

The Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with UNICEF, has conducted a validation workshop on social sector budget allocations and execution for children and persons with disabilities, aimed at improving transparency, accountability, and the effective use of resources.

Held at the Ministry of Finance on Thursday, 23 July 2026, the workshop brought together stakeholders to assess budget priorities and strengthen investments in key areas such as nutrition, healthcare, education, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), and social protection.

Deputy Director of Budget at the Ministry of Finance and Chairperson of the workshop, Dr Ilara Mahdi, emphasized the importance of the exercise in improving resource allocation and ensuring efficient service delivery for vulnerable groups.

UNICEF Representative Mariko Kagoshima commended the Government of Sierra Leone for maintaining macroeconomic stability, reducing fiscal deficits, and sustaining essential services despite global economic pressures. She called for continued investment in child-focused programmes and urged timely release and transparent use of allocated funds.

Financial Secretary Matthew Dingie thanked UNICEF for supporting the development of budget briefs, describing them as important tools for shaping policies and programmes that improve children’s welfare. He disclosed that preparations for the 2027 budget have begun, with increased attention to child-related data and statistics.

Dingie noted that about 2.2 percent of government agencies’ programme budget allocations are directed towards child-focused interventions, including the Free Quality School Education programme and transportation support. He added that the IMF Extended Credit Facility (ECF) programme places emphasis on social spending, with budget execution reviewed every six months.

The Ministry of Finance reaffirmed its commitment to working with UNICEF and other partners to strengthen social sector investments and improve outcomes for children and persons with disabilities across Sierra Leone.