UNDP Sierra Leone’s Resident Representative, Fredrick Ampiah
In taking a step towards shaping Sierra Leone’s development trajectory, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Sierra Leone held a three-day retreat with their partners to discuss and develop a six-year programme document for the ‘People-Centered Sustainable Development and Resilience’ pillar.
The event brought together representatives from 15 government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to collaboratively assess and develop a strategic framework to guide the implementation of the recently approved 2025-2030 Country Programme Document (CPD).
The ‘People-Centered Sustainable Development and Resilience’ pillar focuses on stimulating economic growth and job creation while promoting sustainable resource management, economic diversification, and regional integration under the pillar.
Head of UNDP’s Sustainable and Local Economic Development (SLED) portfolio, Tanzila Watta SankohSpeaking at the retreat, UNDP Sierra Leone’s Resident Representative, Fredrick Ampiah, underscored the importance of developing bold and innovative initiatives to support Sierra Leone’s national priorities. He noted that the retreat was crucial to ensuring that the government, with the help of development partners like UNDP, can craft impactful strategies for sustainable development.
“We aim to develop a transformative strategy that will enable Sierra Leone to achieve its long-term development goals, particularly in the areas of climate resilience and economic diversification,” he said.
The head of UNDP’s Sustainable and Local Economic Development (SLED) portfolio, Tanzila Watta Sankoh, emphasized the need for collaborative action for the co-creation of projects and resource mobilization. She highlighted how UNDP will align their efforts to national objectives, ensuring that every project undertaken addresses the most pressing needs of the country, particularly in rural and vulnerable communities.
Minister of Youth Affairs, Mohamed Orman BanguraMinister of Youth Affairs, Mohamed Orman Bangura, delivered a statement, focusing on the importance of youth empowerment as a cornerstone of sustainable development. He urged the attendees to explore innovative approaches that would provide young people with education, skills training, and entrepreneurial opportunities. “By fostering collaboration between government, development partners, and the private sector, we can create sustainable opportunities for our youths, ensuring they are equipped to contribute to Sierra Leone’s future,” the Minister said.
This strategic gathering offered a unique opportunity for participants to step back, assess their progress, and refine their strategies to ensure seamless alignment with UNDP’s overarching objectives and national priorities. Through open dialogue and inclusive discussions, the retreat fostered a unified approach to sustainable development, encouraging partners to work together toward a shared vision to lay the foundation for the groundwork for effective and resilient progress in Sierra Leone.
Participants included representatives of the Ministries of Transport, Tourism, Environment, Agriculture, Higher and Technical Education, Youth Affairs, Information and Civic Education, Trade and Industry, Environmental Protection Agency, National Protected Area Authority, National Youth Commission, the National Disaster Management Agency, etc.
