Sierra Leone establishes IFAP National Committee during IDUAI 2026, UNESCO celebrates 25 years of Information for All work

Sierra Leone has officially established a National Committee for UNESCO’s Information for All Program (IFAP), the country’s Foreign Ministry announced during the celebrations of the 2026 International Day for Universal Access to Information. The new national body will align Sierra Leone’s policies and activities with IFAP’s global priorities, while allowing the country to share experience and best practices in the international IFAP network.

Established in 2001, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) promotes inclusive and equitable knowledge societies. It works in six priority areas: information for development, information literacy, information preservation, information ethics, information accessibility and multilingualism. The IFAP Manual of Operations states that national committees play an important role in translating global goals into national strategies and programs. The Sierra Leone committee is thus seen as a key step toward strengthening national ownership of IFAP and advancing local actions in line with the Program’s mission.
The committee was established ahead of a major international conference in Freetown on 28 September 2026, co-organised by UNESCO and the Sierra Leone government. Under the theme, ‘Upholding Information Integrity in the Digital Era: The Role of Access to Information in Addressing Information Disorder,’ the event brought together delegates from 41 countries to discuss the current challenges facing information ecosystems. The conference was also held as part of the global celebration of IDUAI, a day established by UNESCO in 2015 and recognised by the United Nations General Assembly in 2019 to reaffirm the right to seek, receive and share information.
The celebration of the 2026 anniversary was particularly significant for IFAP, as it coincided with the Program’s 25th anniversary. That milestone provided an opportunity to reflect on the Program’s achievements and launch several new regional initiatives to strengthen IFAP’s priorities in a rapidly changing information environment. The conference discussed the growing intersection of access to reliable information and information integrity, particularly as artificial intelligence and digital platforms change the way information is created, distributed and consumed.
“These technological shifts require information to be not only accessible, but also accurate, timely and trustworthy,” said Guilherme Canela de Souza Godoi, Director of UNESCO’s Division for Digital Inclusion, Policies, and Digital Transformation and IFAP Secretary. The conference sessions covered topics such as proactive disclosure, providing environmental information and public interest data, and using technology to strengthen information systems. Participants also discussed emerging policy frameworks such as the African Union’s Data Access Guidelines.
Organisers and attendees said the conference’s success showed the importance of ongoing collaboration among governments, independent oversight bodies, and international partners in advancing universal access to information. Establishing the Sierra Leone National Committee is expected to strengthen the national capacity to act on IFAP priorities and contribute to regional efforts to build resilient, inclusive knowledge societies in the digital era.