The Minister of Finance, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, has reaffirmed the Government of Sierra Leone’s commitment to deepening public financial management (PFM) reforms while welcoming a World Bank scoping mission for the proposed Strengthening Accountability and Local Oversight for the New Generation Public Financial Management Project.

The project is aimed at improving financial oversight, accountability, and efficiency across public sector operations.

The scoping mission, which runs from Monday, January 26 to Friday, January 30, 2026, is expected to engage with various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs),  as well as civil society organisations. The consultations will focus on strengthening accountability in PFM, improving local-level oversight mechanisms, defining project activities and scope, identifying draft results indicators, agreeing on preparation and implementation arrangements, and initiating discussions on fiduciary, technical, environmental, and social standards, including data requirements and timelines.

Introducing the mission team to the Minister, World Bank Country Manager, Abdu Muwonge, said the team would require strategic guidance to reposition the project to ensure value for money. He noted that prioritisation would be critical to sustaining the gains and progress already achieved in PFM reforms.

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In his remars, Minister of Finance Bangura expressed appreciation to the Bank for its support of Sierra Leone’s PFM journey over the years, noting that the reforms in this new project must complement progress in systems around Procurement. and the EGP, Revenue Mobilisation efforts, Local Councils reforms, enhance budget credibility, addressing audit recommendations, amongst others.

The mission lead, Raymond Muhala, Public Sector Specialist, spoke about the instrument, focus and other critical aspects of the consultations, while Deputy Minister of Finance I, Kaddiatu Allie, encourage the mission to look at the gains and propose ways of building on them, by identifying what works well and what needs improvement in decentralisation and revenue mobilisation at the district level.

After several inputs from other directors, the Chief Economist and Chief Executive of the National Public Procurement Authority, Public Procurement, Internal and External Audits, Public Investment Management, PFM, interoperability, and other reform priorities expected to shape future PFM projects.

The scoping mission is scheduled to conclude with a wrap-up meeting with the Minister of Finance on Friday, January 30, 2026.