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The Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), has taken significant steps to enhance collaboration with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) by initiating preparations for a Government–NGO Dialogue Session to address emerging development challenges and improve service delivery across Sierra Leone.
The high-level meeting, held on Thursday, 17th April, 2025, was also aimed at strengthening partnerships with Non-governmental organizations.
During a meeting at the Office of the Vice President, Hon. Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Madam Kenyeh Barlay, presented the Dialogue Planning Committee Members to Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh.
Minister Barlay provided insights into the ongoing planning process, reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to fostering constructive relationships with NGOs, highlighting their role as strategic partners rather than adversaries in development.
Minister Barlay asserted that the Government and NGOs have together complemented the state efforts in delivering critical services, pointing out ongoing reforms, such as the streamlining of NGO Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to better align with national priorities.
She further expressed optimism about the planned dialogue, noting that it offers a platform to deepen coordination between government institutions and NGOs for the successful implementation of the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) 2023–2030.
Vice President Jalloh welcomed the initiative, praising Minister Barlay and her team’s dedication, which he poised to believe is pivotal for the success of the dialogue. He described the upcoming session as a vital opportunity to enhance mutual understanding, strengthen collaboration, and more effectively tackle development challenges.
Emphasizing the importance of adapting to the changing development finance landscape, Vice President Jalloh remarked, acknowledged that the closer collaboration between NGOs and the government is necessary, particularly in aligning with national priorities under the Big Five Game Changers of the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP)2024–2030
According to the Vice President, the dialogue would concentrate on three central themes: governance and accountability mechanisms, thematic focus areas for development collaboration, and the methodology for the dialogue platform itself.
The Committee has been assigned the critical tasks of identifying key discussion areas for the upcoming dialogue, designing its format and structure, developing logistical plans, and ensuring that outcomes are incorporated into national policy alignment.
Eric Massallay, National Director of NGO Affairs, emphasized the crucial role of NGOs and echoed the need for timely coordination to improve developmental outcomes during his introduction of the committee members.
The inaugural meeting ended with a unified commitment among participants to expedite the process inclusively, fostering genuine partnerships for sustainable development in Sierra Leone.
