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The Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Kenyeh Barlay, received a delegation from the NGO Coordination Unit of Liberia’s Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) on Monday, 22 June, 2026.
The Delegation is undertaking a week-long study tour in Sierra Leone to strengthen its institutional capacity, coordination mechanisms, and regulatory frameworks through peer learning and knowledge exchange.
Furthermore, the Liberian delegation, led by Director Alfred D. Jardiah, includes Acting Assistant Director A. Pitah-Nah Tiepoh, Senior Planning Analyst Horace D. Zaway, Executive Assistant Rosina Barrie, and Data Analyst Nathan Lolyd.
Speaking during the engagement, Director Jardiah said Liberia chose Sierra Leone because of the strong historical ties between the two countries and the notable progress Sierra Leone has made in coordinating and regulating the NGO sector.
“We have come to learn from Sierra Leone’s experiences and best practices in NGO coordination and engagement with civil society organizations. Our two countries share a common history, culture, and development aspirations, and we believe there is much we can learn from one another,” he said.
Jardiah expressed appreciation for the warm reception accorded to the delegation and noted that the lessons acquired during the visit would help improve NGO coordination systems and development partnerships in Liberia.
Welcoming the delegation, Minister Barlay highlighted the long-standing relationship between Sierra Leone and Liberia and commended the decision to undertake the learning visit.
She noted that Sierra Leone’s NGO Affairs Directorate has evolved significantly over the years, growing into a strong institution responsible for coordinating NGO activities and fostering partnerships between government and development actors.
Additionally, Minister Barlay pointed to several innovations introduced by the Directorate, including the digital NGO registration system, online mapping tools, service-level agreements, strengthened monitoring mechanisms, and coordination platforms that bring together government institutions, development partners, and NGOs.
“These reforms have strengthened transparency, improved information sharing, and enhanced the effectiveness of NGO interventions across the country,” Minister Barlay said. “Our approach has been built on partnership and constructive engagement, creating an enabling environment for NGOs to contribute meaningfully to national development.”
She further highlighted the introduction of initiatives such as NGO Week celebrations, NGO symposiums, and structured engagement mechanisms that have helped deepen collaboration between government and civil society organizations.
Finally, the visit is expected to deepen cooperation between Sierra Leone and Liberia while promoting the exchange of knowledge and best practices in NGO governance and development coordination.
