KOICA Alumni Association Sierra Leone Launches First Seminar on Digital Literacy for the Civil Service.

The KOICA Alumni Association Sierra Leone (KAASL) has launched its first seminar on Digital Literacy for the Civil Service, held at the Western District Women Fellowship Hall, Kingharman Road, Brookfields.

The seminar, themed “Smart Skills for a Smart Civil Service,” was designed to strengthen digital literacy among junior to mid-level officers in Sierra Leone’s civil service.

The event brought together young civil servants from various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), alongside KOICA beneficiaries, to foster collaboration and participation in advancing digital literacy within the public sector.

Speaking on behalf of Madam Abie Elizabeth Kamara, President of KAASL and Director at the Development Assistance Coordination Office (DACO), Mr. Usman Cherry Conteh, Development Secretary at the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), welcomed participants and outlined the association’s objectives.

He explained that KAASL is a voluntary network of public servants who have benefited from KOICA’s capacity-building programs, with a mission to promote collaboration, knowledge exchange, and development initiatives.

KAASL Mr Conteh said, was established in January 2025 with 20 founding members with sister chapters in Liberia and Nigeria.

Mr. Conteh described the seminar as a landmark initiative, emphasizing the growing importance of IT skills in today’s rapidly modernizing world.

He urged KOICA beneficiaries to use their expertise to positively impact junior and mid-level civil servants across Sierra Leone.

Mr. Ishaka Nyallay, KOICA scholarship beneficiary and Secretary General of KAASL, shared his personal experience of studying in Korea.

He highlighted how the program nurtures resilience, innovation, and development-oriented leadership:

“KOICA did not just send us to Korea to study; they also trained us to return as Development Ambassadors for Sierra Leone,” he said.

He stressed that the program equips participants with practical skills essential for driving sustainable development in their home countries.

Mr. Abass Kargbo, Senior Aid Management Officer at MoPED, noted that KOICA scholarships and training programs have created opportunities for cultural exchange, strengthened diplomatic ties, and enhanced Sierra Leone’s economic diplomacy.

Also delivering remarks, Madam Aminata Omaru Tholley, Director of Policy, Planning and Compliance at the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation, praised KOICA’s scholarships and training programs as critical instruments in advancing governance and development aspirations.

The seminar featured comprehensive sessions covering:

Productivity tools for civil servants; Data collection and reporting tools; Practical sessions on innovative perspectives and technologies.

Participants were encouraged to leverage KOICA opportunities to build their digital skills and contribute to Sierra Leone’s development.

The seminar concluded with calls for greater collaboration to address challenges, exchange ideas, and strengthen partnerships in shaping the future of Sierra Leone’s civil service.

By:

John Farfira Kamara

SLENA Correspondent,

Ministry of Planning and Economic Development johnfarfirakamara@gmail.com ‪+232 79 185532‬