India Delegation Strengthens Bilateral Ties with MoPAPA on Capacity Building and Technical Support for Civil Service Reform

A high-level delegation from the Government of India, including the Indian High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, held bilateral talks with the Ministry of Public Administration and Political Affairs (MoPAPA) to strengthen cooperation on capacity building and technical support.

The focus of the engagement was the transformation of the Civil Service Training College (CSTC) into the envisioned Public Service Academy (PSA).

The meeting, held at the MoPAPA Conference Hall, explored opportunities Sierra Leone stands to gain from India in the areas of tech-based education, short-term capacity-building programs, and other relevant study initiatives under the theme “Education Initiatives in Technology-Enabled Solutions and IT Resource Augmentation.”

In his welcome remarks, the Minister of MoPAPA, Amara Kallon, reiterated the governance reform commitments of His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, highlighting the transition of CSTC to the PSA as a major government deliverable.

He emphasized the importance of developing a fit-for-purpose curriculum aligned with international best practices, aimed at enhancing public sector efficiency and professionalism.

Minister Kallon expressed Sierra Leone’s keen interest in close collaboration with India, revealing plans to formalize this partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

 He noted that, India’s support would be crucial in establishing training institutions and designing core curricula that would guide the PSA’s technical framework. "This transition can only be realized through a concrete agreement and shared commitment," he stated.

Indian High Commissioner B.C. Pradhan affirmed India’s readiness to support Sierra Leone's reform agenda. He emphasized that the meeting marked the culmination of months of preparation and that the collaboration would be anchored by EdCIL (India) Limited — a public sector enterprise under India's Ministry of Education. EdCIL specializes in consultancy, digital education, and human resource development.

Commissioner Pradhan acknowledged the critical role of MoPAPA in reforming Sierra Leone’s public service and pledged India’s continued support in building an empowered and skilled civil service workforce.

Also speaking at the event, Dr. B. Chandrasekar, Executive Director (Corporate Planning) of EdCIL, presented a comprehensive overview of EdCIL’s capabilities. He identified key areas of collaboration, including the establishment of centers of excellence in priority sectors, technical support for Smart SL implementation, and academic exchange programs between Sierra Leone and India.

The meeting concluded with mutual agreement on the need for sustained engagement and structured cooperation, paving the way for a new chapter in civil service reform and public sector capacity development in Sierra Leone.

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