The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) has advanced its participatory Chiefdom Development Planning exercise with a pre-engagement meeting for stakeholders of Sorogbema Chiefdom, held in Jendema, Pujehun District.

In her statement, Minister Kenyeh Barlay stressed the importance of developing a Chiefdom Development Plan that is genuinely owned by the people and reflects their priorities and aspirations. She explained that while MoPED would provide the technical guidance required, communities and local stakeholders must take ownership of identifying and prioritising the interventions they consider most critical to their development.

She stressed that development planning should not focus solely on social infrastructure such as schools, health centres and water facilities, but should also identify productive and income-generating projects capable of creating economic opportunities and contributing to sustainable local development.

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Minister Barlay further emphasised the need for the Chiefdom Development Plan to align with the Medium-Term National Development Plan and Government’s broader development priorities, while ensuring effective coordination between chiefdom, district and national planning structures.

She also stressed that development plans must translate into tangible results, noting that a plan should provide a practical framework for identifying priority projects, mobilising resources and guiding implementation rather than simply remaining as a document.

The Director of Rural Development (RDD), M’balu Kamara, presented on the proposed consultation process and outlined what stakeholders and community representatives are expected to do ahead of the main consultation.

Director Kamara explained that representatives selected from the 12 sections are expected to consult with their respective communities beforehand and gather their views, concerns and development priorities. This, he noted, would ensure that representatives attend the consultation carrying the collective voice of the communities they represent rather than presenting only their personal opinions.

He emphasised that the process is intended to be inclusive and community-driven, with the technical team providing guidance and facilitating the process while communities determine their own development priorities.

Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Liberia, Edie Sidike Massalay, welcomed the initiative and emphasised the importance of development planning that responds to the realities and aspirations of local communities.

Ambassador Massalay encouraged stakeholders to actively participate in the process and ensure that the priorities identified through the consultation provide a sound basis for addressing the development needs of Sorogbema Chiefdom.

The Paramount Chief of Sorogbema Chiefdom, Mustapha Jengay Massaquoi III, welcomed Minister Barlay and the MoPED team to the chiefdom and expressed appreciation for the Ministry’s decision to engage communities directly in the development planning process.

He highlighted the importance of allowing the people to articulate their own priorities and reaffirmed the commitment of the traditional leadership to supporting the process and ensuring broad community participation.

The engagement also provided an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss the importance of strengthening local coordination mechanisms through which development priorities can be identified, documented and channelled into district and national planning processes.