NaMEA and Stakeholders Validate Monitoring Reports for 10 Public Investment Projects

The National Monitoring and Evaluation Agency (NaMEA), with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), held a two-day validation workshop this week to review monitoring reports for ten public investment projects being implemented by Sierra Leone’s various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). Over 70 people from the central government, development partners, and implementing agencies attended the event, which took place at the Freetown City Council Hall on Wallace Johnson Street.
The reports’ monitoring and evaluation exercises were carried out nationwide in November and December 2025, and they covered project activities in 16 districts. Among the attendees were representatives from the Ministries of Education, Youth Employment, Agriculture, Health, and Energy, as well as officials from the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) and the National Digital Transformation Directorate.
Madam Kenyeh Barlay, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, officially opened the workshop, stating that the creation of NaMEA by MoPED was intended to institutionalise an evidence-based governance culture. She described the validation process as a practical demonstration of the government’s commitment to accountability and transparency in public investment, emphasising the importance of monitoring and validation in ensuring that public funds generate tangible benefits for citizens.
“This event is timely and critical for making a greater impact with limited resources,” Madam Barlay stated. “Citizens deserve evidence, and NaMEA is crucial in providing it. Monitoring, evaluation, and validation are not the end of the process; rather, they should inform action, strengthen partnerships, and ensure that recommendations are implemented. Stakeholders must take ownership to maximise development impact and ensure that 80% of the benefits reach Sierra Leoneans.
In his welcome remarks, NaMEA Deputy Director General Mr Paul Allen stated that the Agency conducted monitoring and survey activities for the ten selected projects across the 16 districts during the November-December period. While he stated that some projects are doing well, others face implementation challenges that require attention. “This validation process will improve future project delivery, and we will ensure the reports are implemented for the benefit of Sierra Leoneans,” Mr Allen stated. He thanked UNDP for its technical and logistical assistance, and emphasised that all ten projects under consideration are in line with the government’s Five Big Game Changers agenda.
Dr Susan Roberts, Deputy Commissioner of NaCSA, emphasised the importance of NaMEA’s work in social protection and youth employment programs over the last decade. She praised development partners, including the Islamic Development Bank, for assisting vulnerable groups, noting that beneficiary selection processes are based on Statistics Sierra Leone data. Dr Roberts also revealed that the German Development Bank is funding infrastructure investments in border districts, such as support for cattle, rice, and cocoa value chains, as well as roads, culverts, rice stores, milling machines, and water wells in riverine areas like Kambia and elsewhere in the country.
Mr Kevin Petrini, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, stated that the validation exercise aims to improve efficiency and value for money, scale lessons learned, and improve future public investment planning and delivery. He emphasised that projects must be well designed, appropriately managed, and effectively executed to support fiscal stability and the government’s debt repayment efforts. “Evidence empowers action,” Mr Petrini stated, emphasising UNDP’s ongoing collaboration with NaMEA to advance Sierra Leone’s development priorities.
Mr Saidu Amara, Director of Capacity, Organisational Policy, Systems, and Development, chaired the workshop. During the question-and-answer session, NaMEA officials revealed that the agency is currently monitoring over 200 ongoing projects across the country, demonstrating the scope of its oversight responsibilities.
The validation workshop aimed to both confirm monitoring findings and generate actionable recommendations for improving project implementation and impact. Participants agreed on the importance of stronger follow-up mechanisms to ensure that the lessons from the reports are translated into corrective actions on the ground. Mrs Maliatu Bah Jalloh of the NaMEA delivered the formal vote of thanks.