Sierra Leone has taken another decisive step in its governance reform agenda with the launch of a three-day African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Technical Training Workshop on the Revised Country Self-Assessment Base Questionnaire (CSAQ).

In a strong reaffirmation of Sierra Leone’s commitment to governance reform, the Honorable Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Madam Kenyeh Barlay, alongside the Executive Secretary of the APRM National Secretariat, Mr. Mohamed Sheshu Sheriff, opened the Technical Training Workshop on the Popularization of the Revised APRM Country Self-Assessment Base Questionnaire (CSAQ) in Freetown today.

The event, which runs from 16–18 September 2025, brings together policymakers, civil society representatives, and experts from the APRM Continental Secretariat.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister of Planning and Economic Development and APRM Focal Point, Madam Kenyeh Barlay, reaffirmed the government’s determination to use the APRM as a driver for participatory governance and accountability. She described President Julius Maada Bio’s June 19 directive placing the APRM under her ministry as a “visionary decision” that has enhanced coordination, strengthened institutional structures, and accelerated the reform process.

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“Our task is clear,” the Minister said. “We must not only popularize this revised questionnaire but also ensure that the lessons and findings inform national planning, resource mobilization, and civic engagement.” She pledged her ministry’s commitment to building the Secretariat’s capacity, integrating APRM reviews into the National Development Plan, and promoting inter-ministerial collaboration.

Executive Secretary of the APRM National Secretariat, Mohamed Sheshu Sheriff, also underscored the importance of the revised questionnaire, describing it as both a diagnostic tool and a roadmap for reform. “This instrument is more than data collection,” he noted. “It is a mirror of our progress, a compass for our direction, and a canvas on which we sketch the governance model Sierra Leone deserves.”

The workshop aims to strengthen the technical knowledge of national stakeholders on how to adapt and implement the new questionnaire. Discussions will focus on critical areas including democracy and political governance, economic management, corporate governance, socio-economic development, and state resilience.

Officials stressed that the process is not about producing another report but about fostering a movement that ensures citizens’ voices are reflected in decision-making and governance reforms.

By aligning the APRM with national development priorities, Sierra Leone positions itself as a continental leader in participatory governance. “What we do here will echo beyond these three days,” Minister Barlay emphasized, “because this is about shaping the governance culture of tomorrow.”