Sierra Leone’s Minister of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) showcased the country’s integrated peace and development initiatives.

As Chair of the g7+, the minister addressed the ASWAN Forum for Peace and Economic Development, focusing on the Thematic Roundtable ‘Re-envisioning Peacebuilding at the Summit of the Future and Beyond,’ and highlighted Sierra Leone’s pioneering efforts in integrating peacebuilding into national development strategies.

She  emphasized the critical alignment of economic planning with peacebuilding goals, stressing, “There is no development without peace, and peace cannot be sustained where poverty exists.” Sierra Leone’s experience, particularly since the end of its civil war in 2002, serves as a model for addressing root causes of conflict through targeted national development plans.

Minister Barlay commented on the importance of inclusive processes and community engagement, citing Sierra Leone’s use of fragility assessments to shape local-level planning, as well as outlined strategies for scaling up Sierra Leone’s success across the continent, advocating for tailored approaches that resonate with each country’s unique context. He highlighted the g7+’s role in facilitating peer-learning among fragile states and called for enhanced international support aligned with national development priorities.

She urged reforms to integrate peacebuilding into global frameworks such as the SDGs and emphasized the need for sustained international funding and inclusive multilateral processes to support conflict-affected countries effectively.

It was revealed that, Sierra Leone’s proactive stance at the ASWAN Forum signals a commitment to fostering sustainable peace and development, setting a precedent for collaborative efforts across Africa and beyond.