IGC Meets PSRU to strengthen collaboration on Evidence-Based Public Sector Reforms.

The Public Sector Reform Unit (PSRU) and the International Growth Centre (IGC), Sierra Leone, has held a strategic meeting in Freetown aimed at enhancing collaboration on evidence-based policy reform in Sierra Leone. The engagement held at the PSRU conference hall on Tuesday 22 July, 2025, marked a significant step towards aligning research and academic expertise with the government’s reform agenda.

During the meeting, both institutions reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation in areas such as: Public Administration efficiency, Service delivery assessments, Policy impact evaluations, Performance evaluation and Capacity building for evidence-informed decision-making.

The Director of PSRU, Mr. Sulaiman Phoray-Musa, welcomed IGC’s technical support in embedding research into reform planning and implementation, particularly in conducting diagnostic studies, functional reviews, and monitoring reform outcomes across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

The Director of PSRU emphasized the importance of leveraging empirical data and independent research to drive reforms that are not only technically sound but also socially responsive and fiscally sustainable. Mr. Phoray-Musa gave a power point presentation on PSRU’s programmes and activities, highlighting challenges and areas of possible interventions.

The Senior Economist of IGC, Mr Abou Bakarr Kamara noted that the International Growth Centre (IGC) is a research organization that aims to promote sustainable growth in developing countries by providing policy advice and fostering research collaboration. The Sierra Leone programme, he stated, started in 2010 with focus on trade, governance, health and agriculture. “Our current projects are addressing the government’s requests to help evaluate the national health insurance scheme, monetary policy, managing natural resources, urban planning and agricultural production,” he concluded.

Mr. Kamara pointed out that IGC-Sierra Leone, focuses on generating evidence-based research and policy options that can support the country's economic growth and development objectives. It collaborates with local researchers, government bodies, and international organizations to address key challenges, such as improving public services, enhancing economic opportunities, and fostering private sector development.

He reiterated IGC’s readiness to provide high-quality analytical inputs and support the government’s ambition to building a modern, efficient, and accountable public sector. This partnership aligns with the government’s commitment to ensuring that reform processes are inclusive, transparent, and grounded in local and international best practices.

The International Growth Centre (IGC) is an economic research centre based at the London School of Economics, operated in partnership with University of Oxford's Blavatnik School of Government. It has resident teams in 10 countries (Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, Jordan, Mozambique, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Zambia) and ongoing engagements on key government priorities in other partner countries across Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East.

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