The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) launched the First Quarter Ministerial Development Partnership Committee (DEPAC) Meeting at the Foreign Services Academy Conference Hall, Tower Hill. The meeting, themed “Status of the Implementation of the MTNDP 2024-2030 and Donor Coordination,” aimed to assess progress on national development priorities.
The event brought together government officials and development partners, including Madam Seraphine Wakana, United Nations Resident Coordinator, Abdu Muwonge, World Bank Country Manager, and representatives from the German Embassy, who co-chaired discussions on economic improvements, the operationalisation of Sector Working Groups (SWGs), and updates on the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) 2024-2030. MoPED provided progress updates on the “Big Five” priorities and development partners’ contributions. The meeting reinforced the government’s commitment to strengthening donor coordination, implementing proactive policies, and enhancing private sector involvement to achieve the Big Five Game Changers and facilitate sustainable growth.
In her opening remarks, Minister Kenyeh Barlay emphasised that the first quarter DEPAC meeting was an opportunity to evaluate the MTNDP 2024-2030 progress and meet the expectations of citizens and development partners through an annual assessment. She noted that the event provided a platform for SWGs to revisit standard coordination strategies, policy frameworks, and resource mobilisation to align governance initiatives with innovative financing and economic transformation agendas.
Madam Seraphine Wakana praised MoPED and its technical team for keeping development partners updated and for launching the first DEPAC meeting in early 2025, as the Minister had promised. She underscored the theme's significance, particularly its relevance to the United Nations, and highlighted the importance of sector working groups and technical teams in ensuring efficient implementation. She called for strengthened coordination to enhance operational effectiveness.
World Bank representative Abdu Muwonge acknowledged the ministry’s coordination efforts in agriculture, health, and education but stressed the need for robust contractor monitoring and proactive teamwork. He commended the recent collaboration between the Ministries of Environment, Local Government, and Agriculture in delivering a unified service delivery plan.
German Ambassador Jens Kraus-Masse reiterated the importance of multilateral and bilateral cooperation, emphasising the significance of timely DEPAC meetings in fostering coordination. He highlighted the need for transparency, accountability, and teamwork to achieve common development goals. He also emphasised private sector involvement as a key driver for generating revenue to support public expenditure.
During the meeting, several presentations were made, including:
Follow-up on the Recommendations of the December 2024 Ministerial DEPAC Meeting – Madam Abie Elizabeth Kamara
Impact of Economic Indicator Improvements on the Population – Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura
Status of the Implementation of the MTNDP 2024-2030
Progress updates on the Big Five – Annual progress report
Synopsis of development partners’ support to MTNDP implementation – MoPED Representative
Following these presentations, key discussions emerged among MDAs, development partners, civil society, the U.S. Embassy, the German Embassy, the Chamber of Commerce, and experts. These discussions focused on strengthening private sector involvement, enhancing coordination and monitoring, improving local revenue mobilisation, and reinforcing policy frameworks, accountability, and transparency to align with global development standards.
In her concluding remarks, Minister Barlay thanked all participants for their commitment to effective monitoring, coordination, policy development, and management in implementing the MTNDP 2024-2030, emphasizing its importance for Sierra Leone’s economic transformation.
Correspondent: John Farfira Kamara
Contact: johnfarfirakamara@gmail.com
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