By Ibrahim Kabba Turay
United Nations in Sierra Leone has concluded a stakeholder engagement in Makeni and Bo City, respectively.
The engagement focused on the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2025-2030.
The UN in Sierra Leone consisting of agencies like UNFPA, UNDP, WHO, UNIDO, UN WOMEN, FAO and WFP, were in the two districts to design their next strategy for their support to the development of Sierra Leone in the five years
The UN development reform, effective on January 1st, 2019, identifies the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) as the single most important strategic document for the UN Development System’s engagement with a host country. It is like the bible of the UN development intervention in Sierra Leone for the next five years.
Seraphine Wakana, UN RC’s in Sierra Leone, said the engagement with stakeholders, including PWDs, the youth, women’s groups, traditional leaders, was for them to listen and translate their perspectives into the strategy, which is expected to be ready by June/July, this year.
She continued that the consultations were largely successful because all stakeholders were present to give their perspectives on development priorities they would want to include in the next Cooperation Framework.
She added that the process was participatory and that every contribution was considered, stating that the Cooperation Framework 2025/2030 ensures that UN support is aligned and closely linked to the country’s specific needs and challenges, fostering a more effective and targeted approach to development.
She said the CF promotes a holistic and integrated approach to development, and considers economic, social, and environmental dimensions, recognising the interconnectedness of various development goals.
“Developing the CF will leverage on partnership and collaboration between Stakeholders. It will, therefore, involve consultations and collaboration between the UN, government, private sector, civil society, and other stakeholders, including the most vulnerable groups,” she said.
She concluded that the collaboration of the process will enhance ownership and ensure that the development of the strategy are inclusive and widely supported, and also encourages a coordinated effort among different actors, minimising duplication of efforts and maximising resources.
She said it will also facilitate resource mobilisation by attracting funding and support from various sources, including international donors, development partners, and private sector entities, and additional financial support can complement the national budget, enabling Sierra Leone to implement its development programs more effectively.
The Resident Minister South, Mohamed E K Alie, welcome the RC to his district, and thank the UN family for taking the engagement to Bo and interact with key stakeholders on their Cooperation Framework 2025-2030.
He said they were looking forward to meaningful contribution at the end of the Cooperation Framework engagement, adding that at the end of the engagement he hope all the challenges that they will face will be addressed.
