By Michaela Bonnie
A delegation from Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC) and the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) completed a two-week capacity-building training program in Seoul, South Korea, on September 14, 2024.
The program, hosted by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), aimed to enhance the diplomatic skills of Sierra Leonean officials. Led by Development Secretary Mr Peter Sam-Kpakra, the delegation participated in a series of workshops and seminars focusing on diplomacy, international cooperation, and capacity building. The training, held at the KOICA training centre, ran from September 1 to September 14, 2024. During the closing ceremony, Antonio JS Han, Executive Director General of KOICA, congratulated the participants on completing the program.
“Throughout the program, we have focused on diplomacy and capacity building,” Han said. “I do not doubt that this training has had a significant impact on the Sierra Leonean participants.” He highlighted KOICA’s efforts in implementing grant-based programs through development projects, international volunteer and fellowship initiatives, and multilateral cooperation.
He also thanked Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Planning and Economic Development and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for their collaboration. Ambassador Kathos Mattai praised KOICA’s mission to promote international cooperation and the agency’s role in fostering mutual exchanges between the Republic of Korea and developing countries. “KOICA has been instrumental in supporting Sierra Leone, from participating in our 60th Independence Anniversary celebrations to providing scholarships to Sierra Leonean students to study in South Korea,” said Mattai.
He called on KOICA to continue accelerating its support for Sierra Leone. In his closing remarks, Mr. Peter Sam-Kpakra emphasised the value of the training program. “The two-week program was rich and informative. Sierra Leone should learn from Korea’s unique approach to education, where the Korean language is prioritised,” he stated. He also applauded the Korean government’s focus on middle-level manpower as a key to national transformation, citing the construction of the new Freetown City building financed by the Korean government as an example of the strong ties between the two countries.
Madam Isha Silla, Head of Chancery, encouraged participants to apply the knowledge gained from the training. She noted South Korea’s status as one of the top 12 nations in the world due to its productivity and innovation. The event concluded with a vote of thanks from Altina Korosa, Deputy Director of Admin and Finance at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. She expressed gratitude to KOICA for the transformative training, which, she said, had enhanced their diplomatic confidence and cultural sensitivity. “What we have learned are qualities essential in today’s diplomatic world,” Korosa said.
She also thanked the Sierra Leone Ambassador to South Korea and his team for their support throughout the training period. KOICA, established in April 1991, aims to promote international cooperation through various projects that strengthen relationships between South Korea and developing countries. The agency significantly contributes to the economic and social development of these nations across multiple sectors, including education, health, governance, agriculture, rural development, water, energy, and human rights. In partnership with the Green Climate Fund (GCF), KOICA is actively involved in designing innovative, low-emission, and climate-resilient projects to create transformative impacts in developing countries. These initiatives include e-mobility projects in the ASEAN countries and smart city projects in small island developing states in the Pacific.
