On Tuesday, May 13, 2025, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), in collaboration with the Ministries of Public Administration and Political Affairs, and Trade and Industry, hosted a significant stakeholder engagement at the Miatta Conference Hall in Freetown.

This event aimed to advance the establishment of the Republic of Sierra Leone Civil Service Cooperative Credit Union (CivSCCU), which is designed to provide credit loans to civil servants.

The theme of the event was “Building a Sustainable Financial Future for Sierra Leone’s Civil Servants.”

The gathering attracted a diverse array of stakeholders, including representatives from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, Correctional Services, the Police, the National Fire Force, development partners, and civil society organizations.

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Mr. Eric Massally, Director of NGO Affairs and Chair of the session, emphasized the Secretariat’s dedication to strategic sensitization, consultation, and inclusive participation in realizing the vision of a cooperative credit union tailored specifically for Sierra Leone’s civil servants.

In her keynote address, Planning Minister Madam Kenyeh Barlay reaffirmed the government’s steadfast commitment to financial inclusion and the empowerment of civil servants. She underscored the alignment of CivSCCU with Sierra Leone’s Medium-Term National Development Plan (2024–2030), particularly focusing on Gamechanger 5: “Transforming the Public Sector Architecture.”

“The Civil Service Credit Union is not merely a financial instrument,” she stated. “It represents a pathway to enhanced welfare, empowerment, agricultural and housing investments, and improved financial literacy. This initiative reflects our commitment to long-term national transformation.”

Mr. Peter A. Banting, General Manager of the National Cooperative Credit Union Association (NaCCUA), emphasized the significant strides made by the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) since August 2023 in the establishment of the Civil Service Cooperative Credit Union (CivSCCU). He acknowledged the invaluable technical support provided by the Irish League of Credit Union Foundation (ILCUF) and commended the collaborative efforts—including peer-learning exchanges and capacity-building programs—that have been instrumental in shaping this initiative.

Mr. Banting urged the Accountant General’s Department and all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to extend their full support, highlighting that civil service credit unions are globally recognized as effective tools for promoting financial inclusion, economic stability, and grassroots empowerment.

Mr. Usman Bangura, representing the Human Resource Management Office (HRMO), expressed his office’s unwavering commitment to facilitating the implementation of CivSCCU. A representative from the Cabinet Secretariat characterized CivSCCU as a model of mutual support that will enhance the welfare of civil servants through structured savings and improved access to credit.

James Brandon, Second Secretary at the Irish Embassy in Sierra Leone, encouraged Sierra Leoneans to cultivate a savings culture and strengthen local ownership and accountability frameworks, underscoring the transformative potential of the initiative.

Minister Amara Kallon reiterated the government’s broader public-sector reform strategy, acknowledging past challenges—particularly the limited access to credit—and hailed CivSCCU as a “game-changing intervention.” He called for a national commitment to ensure the initiative’s success, stating, “Let us validate the current effort and commit to building a legacy for future generations of civil servants.”

He presented compelling statistics: over 562 registered credit unions in Sierra Leone have mobilized more than NLe 33 million in savings, with outstanding loans totaling NLe 31 million and assets exceeding NLe 48 million, collectively serving over 19,000 Sierra Leoneans. These figures, he noted, exemplify the power of cooperative finance to drive inclusive development.