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The Parliament of Sierra Leone, in partnership with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), held a one-day consultation and validation workshop on the Public Hearings and Participation Toolkit on Monday, 22 December 2025.
The workshop, held at the New Building Conference Hall, brought together Members of Parliament, civil society organisations (CSOs), parliamentary staff, and other stakeholders to review and validate the toolkit, designed to strengthen citizen participation in parliamentary processes with a focus on standardisation, inclusivity, transparency, and accountability.
Opening the session, Director General of Parliament Mrs. Finda Fraser described the initiative as a milestone in making Parliament more responsive to citizens’ needs, emphasizing the importance of inclusiveness and effective feedback mechanisms. Chairman of the Legislative Committee, Hon. Abdul Sulaiman Marray-Conteh, said he was confident the toolkit would be institutionalised as a bridge between Parliament, CSOs, and citizens.
Speaking for WFD, Acting Country Representative Mr. Wurie Bah noted that the organisation’s support aims to help Parliament fulfil its Open Government Partnership (OGP) commitments through an inclusive approach. He commended the lead drafters, Mr. Mohamed Jalloh and Mr. Cyril King, highlighting that the toolkit would enhance constructive dialogue and sustain CSO engagement in legislative processes.
Presentations on the objectives, structure, and progress of the toolkit, including international best practices, were delivered by Mr. Jalloh, Director of the Centre for Strategy and Parliamentary Studies (CSPS), and Mr. King, Consultant to the Speaker of Parliament. Participants later broke into validation groups to assess the toolkit’s alignment with the 1991 Constitution, Parliamentary Standing Orders, and its practicality in addressing citizen needs.
The programme was moderated by the Director of Parliamentary and Public Relations, Mr. Sheku Lamin Turay, who underscored the importance of the exercise in promoting public engagement and deepening citizens’ understanding of parliamentary work.
