A group photo of stakeholders at the UNDP draft CPD consultations.UNDP Sierra Leone /Desmonda Aminata Cole
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sierra Leone recently conducted validation consultations with the Government and various stakeholders regarding its draft Country Programme Document (CPD) for 2025-2030.
This collaborative effort is significant in ensuring the CPD aligns with the nation’s priorities and development goals. The consultations serve as a platform for inclusive dialogue, allowing for a comprehensive review and refinement of the proposed strategies and objectives within the CPD. The UNDP’s commitment to engaging local partners reflects its dedication to promoting sustainable development tailored to Sierra Leone’s unique context.
At the consultations, the UNDP Sierra Leone’s Resident Representative, Fredrick Ampiah, described the gathering as a testament to UNDP’s shared commitment to inclusive, transformative, and sustainable development.
He described the draft CPD as UNDP’s pledge to the people of Sierra Leone, as the document is a blueprint for action and a commitment to reducing multidimensional poverty, addressing vulnerabilities to shocks, injustice, and political tensions, and fostering a society where sustainable development is not just a goal, but a lived reality for all.
The CPD is also in alignment with the government MTNDP’s emphasis on economic diversification and private sector partnership and leverages UNDP’s thought leadership, knowledge management, and evidence generation through innovation, digital technology, and public infrastructure services for evidence-based planning, informed decision-making, and enhanced digital inclusion and accessibility.
“As we transition from the current CPD period, we reassert our pivotal role as a convener, enabler, integrator, and catalyst for transformative change as a UN agency and as part of the UN system in Sierra Leone”, the UNDP Resident Representative said.
He spoke about UNDP’s ‘people-first strategy,’ which centred on the principle of ‘Leaving No One Behind,’ that integrates, localises, and accelerates the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. He described UNDP’s willingness to be by the government’s side, offering unwavering technical support and capacity development. “Together, we realise our shared vision of transforming Sierra Leone into an inclusive and green middle-income economy”, he concluded.
In a statement from the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone, Madam Seraphine Wakana commended UNDP for bringing together key government officials and partners to critically look at the CPD 2025-2030, making sure the SDGs that are captured in the document are discussed and implemented successfully. She expressed hope that the innovative and strategic involvement of government and partners in reviewing and implementing the CPD will enhance the lives of Sierra Leoneans. “So please keep in mind; leave no one behind; place the human rights approach in all that you are going to be doing; and make sure that women and youths are not left behind, so your CPD will be a model for others,” Madam Wakana said.
In her opening statement, the Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Madam Kenyeh Barlay, described UNDP as a long-standing and trusted partner in all the country’s development efforts for the last four decades, assisting the government in achieving inclusive governance, peace and prosperity, people-centred sustainable development, and, more importantly, resilience.
“Today’s occasion coincided with the development of the government’s Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) 2024-2030, with the ‘Big 5 Game Changers’ of food security and agricultural productivity; human capital development; youth employment; technology and infrastructure; and enhancing public service architecture. We are certain that UNDP’s CPD 2025-2030 is in alignment with the government’s big five changers”, Minister Kenyeh said.
She thanked UNDP Sierra Leone for its sustained partnership with the government and the participants for attending the session, calling on all of them to contribute to the development of the CPD.
The second day of consultations was also conducted with non-state actors’ engagement with partners, which was held on the 19th of March 2024 at the same venue. Group discussions were made on UNDP programme priorities and partnerships by focusing on areas around a set of questions. The focus areas included inclusive governance, peace, prosperity, people-centred sustainable development, and resilience building. Group presentations, feedback, and a plenary sum-up followed that.
