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The Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Kenyeh Barlay, has reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s strong commitment to sustainable water resource management during a sensitisation meeting on the establishment of the Mano River Union (MRU) Transboundary Water Basins Management Office (TWBMO).
In her keynote address, Minister Barlay commended the MRU Secretariat for convening the forum and emphasized that water is not only a vital natural resource, but also central to life, livelihoods, and development. She noted that while water sustains life, its scarcity exacerbated by climate change is a silent but destructive force across Africa, particularly for pastoralists, farmers, and fishing communities.
Highlighting Sierra Leone’s proactive stance, the Minister pointed to the creation of a dedicated Ministry of Water Resources and the inclusion of water management priorities in the country’s 2024–2030 Medium-Term National Development Plan. As part of this plan, the government is expanding irrigation systems to enable year-round cultivation in key agricultural zones. It is also working to improve water distribution networks in Freetown and other urban areas, promote the adoption of innovative water and sanitation (WASH) technologies, and build strong monitoring and evaluation systems to guide sectoral activities. Capacity building for water sector professionals is also a priority, alongside the advancement of hydroelectric dam development. Moreover, the government is implementing conservation efforts for forests and wetlands as a means of enhancing climate resilience, supporting ecosystems, and ensuring sustainable food production.
Minister Barlay further emphasized Sierra Leone’s commitment to regional collaboration by referencing the country’s offer to host the ECOWAS Water Resource Management Centre, following the expulsion of Burkina Faso from ECOWAS, a gesture that reflects Sierra Leone’s leadership in regional water governance.
She also called for stronger governance, better policy alignment, and deeper strategic partnerships across the MRU sub-region. She outlined four critical focus areas to guide regional efforts toward water security: managing water resources through integrated approaches at both national and transboundary levels; ensuring resilient and inclusive access to water supply, sanitation, and hygiene services; utilizing water sustainably for food production and nutritional outcomes; and developing hydropower to expand access to clean and renewable energy.
“Let us come together to ensure water for agriculture, electricity, sanitation, health and ultimately, for life,” the Minister concluded.
The sensitisation meeting forms part of the MRU Secretariat’s ongoing collaboration with ECOWAS to establish a regional authority for the integrated and sustainable management of the ten shared river basins in the sub-region. Once operational, the TWBMO will serve as a hub for coordinating efforts to protect vital ecosystems, support community livelihoods, and strengthen climate resilience through effective water governance.
