H.E Hon. Jiwoh Abdulai, Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Sierra Leone, and Hua Liu, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation, signing the Country Programme Framework (CPF) for the period of 2024–2029. (Photo: J. Jabati/Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority, Ministry of Environment, Sierra Leone and S. Khalil/IAEA)
Sierra Leone recently signed its fourth Country Programme Framework (CPF) for the years 2024–2029, marking a significant step towards strengthening its technical cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
H.E. Hon. Jiwoh Abdulai, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and Mr Hua Liu, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation, came together to formalise the partnership during the signing ceremony on January 18, 2024, and February 9, 2024. Sierra Leone has been a member of the IAEA since 1967.
The country’s 2024–2029 CPF identifies four major priority areas on which the partnership will concentrate its efforts. Water resource management, food and agriculture, human health, and nuclear and radiation safety are some of these areas. The CPF acts as a road map for the medium-term technical cooperation between Sierra Leone and the IAEA by identifying these priority sectors.
This helps to ensure that the transfer of nuclear technology and technical resources is in line with the nation’s development objectives. Sierra Leone is committed to ensuring the safe and secure use of nuclear technology within its borders, as evidenced by the emphasis on radiation and nuclear safety. Using this collaboration, the nation hopes to improve its ability to oversee and manage nuclear operations, ultimately helping to safeguard the environment and public health.
IAEA staff at the signature of the Sierra Leone CPF. (Photo: S. Khalil/IAEA)
Regarding food and agriculture, the CPF emphasises Sierra Leone’s emphasis on using nuclear techniques to boost food security, increase crop productivity, and solve problems with soil fertility and pest control. Sierra Leone aims to strengthen its agricultural practices and advance sustainable development in the agricultural sector by utilising nuclear technology in this field.
Sierra Leone’s commitment to utilising nuclear applications in healthcare is highlighted by the CPF’s designation of human health as a priority area. The nation hopes to improve diagnostic capabilities, fortify its healthcare infrastructure, and progress the treatment of a wide range of illnesses by expanding access to nuclear medicine and radiation therapy.
The focus on managing water resources shows Sierra Leone’s understanding of the significance of conserving and using water sustainably. The country hopes to use nuclear techniques through the CPF to improve management, assessment, and conservation efforts related to water resources, with the ultimate goal of guaranteeing clean and safe water for its people.
The fourth Country Programme Framework’s signature represents a critical turning point in Sierra Leone’s relationship with the IAEA, paving the way for focused technical assistance that will support the nation’s progress in several important areas and promote sustainable development.
