Minister Sannoh Seeks UN Support for Youth-Focused Peacebuilding Initiatives
Sia Lucy Kannah On the sidelines of the 81st session of the United
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Youth Affairs, Ibrahim Sannoh, has held a high-level bilateral meeting with United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) Assistant Secretary-General Elizabeth Spehar on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) in New York.
The meeting focused on developing a targeted approach to youth-centred peacebuilding and shaping Sierra Leone’s upcoming PBF portfolio around the country’s Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) priorities.
Discussions centred on integrating market-driven skills development, livelihood opportunities and community-based peace initiatives into YPS programming, with the Sierra Leonean delegation emphasising the need to link peacebuilding efforts with economic opportunities for young people.
The delegation argued that greater flexibility in PBF programming could help address socio-economic vulnerabilities affecting young people while strengthening community-level peacebuilding initiatives.
Sannoh and his delegation also highlighted the importance of national ownership in designing and implementing peacebuilding programmes, with a focus on interventions that respond to Sierra Leone’s specific youth and community needs.
Spehar and her team welcomed Sierra Leone’s proposed approach and reaffirmed the United Nations’ commitment to supporting nationally owned and sustainable peacebuilding initiatives.
“The UN Peacebuilding Fund remains strongly open to Sierra Leone’s context-driven strategy, prioritising local ownership and visible impacts for young people,” Spehar said.
The engagement is expected to inform the development of Sierra Leone’s next PBF portfolio, with youth livelihoods, skills development and community peace initiatives identified as key areas for consideration.
The meeting forms part of Sierra Leone’s broader engagements at UNGA81 aimed at strengthening international partnerships and mobilising support for youth development, peacebuilding and sustainable economic opportunities.