The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) has launched a three-day stakeholder consultation for the ECOWAS Regional Fund for Stabilisation and Development (FRSD) Technical Mission, aimed at identifying priority investments to strengthen resilience and promote inclusive, sustainable development in Sierra Leone.

The consultation, which runs from 21 to 23 July 2026 at the Ministry’s Conference Hall in Freetown, brings together representatives of the ECOWAS Commission, the Government of Germany, development partners, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), local councils, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to align the Fund’s interventions with Sierra Leone’s national development priorities.

Officially opening the consultation, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Madam Kenyeh Barlay, described the initiative as a significant opportunity to address the root causes of fragility while accelerating socio-economic development in vulnerable communities across the country.

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She reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ensuring the effective and timely implementation of the programme, stressing that all interventions must align with Sierra Leone’s Medium-Term National Development Plan (2024-2030) and the emerging Chiefdom Development Plans.

Minister Barlay also called for the prompt establishment of the National Advisory Committee (NAC), cautioning against administrative and procurement delays that could hinder implementation. She urged stakeholders to prioritise high-impact, community-driven projects capable of creating jobs, strengthening local resilience and expanding access to essential services.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, ECOWAS Resident Representative to Sierra Leone, H.E. John Azumah, disclosed that Sierra Leone was admitted as the newest beneficiary of the ECOWAS Regional Fund for Stabilisation and Development during the Fund’s 10th Steering Committee Meeting held in Banjul in March 2026.

He said the technical mission marks the beginning of a collaborative process to identify national priorities and develop interventions that reflect the country’s development aspirations. Azumah commended the Government of Sierra Leone for its commitment to the initiative and acknowledged the continued support of the Government of Germany, KfW Development Bank and GIZ.

Representing the German Government, GIZ Country Director Raphael Frerking reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to supporting the successful implementation of the Fund. He encouraged stakeholders to focus resources on targeted interventions that align with national priorities and deliver measurable development outcomes within the implementation period.

The ECOWAS Regional Fund for Stabilisation and Development, established by the ECOWAS Commission with financial support from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), finances projects in social infrastructure, entrepreneurship, youth and women’s empowerment, governance, capacity development and social cohesion to strengthen resilience in fragile communities across West Africa.

During the consultation, stakeholders reviewed the Fund’s implementation framework, governance arrangements and financing mechanisms, while discussing priority sectors, gender inclusion, security considerations and the proposed composition of the National Advisory Committee.

The three-day technical mission is expected to conclude with the adoption of a national roadmap, the identification of priority intervention areas, the designation of sector focal points and preparations for a comprehensive needs assessment that will guide Sierra Leone’s National Intervention Strategy under the ECOWAS Regional Fund for Stabilisation and Development.