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Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation (MoCTI) is set to showcase the country’s digital transformation agenda on the global stage during a high-level sideline event at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81).
Hosted in partnership with UNICEF, the showcase, titled “Sierra Leone’s Open-Source Journey,” will highlight the country’s transition towards more independent, sustainable and locally controlled digital governance.
The event is scheduled for Thursday, September 24, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Solana Skyline, 6th Floor, 141 E. Houston St., New York, United States.
The initiative follows a major national milestone recorded last November, when MoCTI convened more than 50 ICT leads and inter-ministerial government representatives to validate Sierra Leone’s first-ever Open-Source Software Policy.
The policy is designed to make the country’s public digital ecosystem more secure, affordable and self-determined, while reducing reliance on costly proprietary software licensing.
Among its key priorities are transitioning government technology architecture to locally controlled platforms, strengthening the sustainability of digital public infrastructure, and developing systems that can remain resilient and adaptable over time.
The policy also focuses on critical digital public infrastructure, including digital identification, national records and payment systems, while promoting an ecosystem in which domestic developers and technology startups can create digital solutions tailored to Sierra Leone’s needs.
Led by Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation Salima Monorma Bah, MoCTI is expected to use the event to demonstrate how open-source technology can provide a scalable model for developing countries seeking greater digital sovereignty.