The Adviser to the Commonwealth Secretary-General on Public Administration and Sector Reforms, Dustan Miana, held a significant meeting with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) and various development partners at the MoPED Conference Hall. The meeting evaluated Sierra Leone’s public sector performance, development coordination, and alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while identifying improvement areas.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Miana highlighted the Commonwealth’s longstanding cooperation with Sierra Leone, noting that his visit, facilitated by the Office of the President, assessed the public sector’s efficiency. “The Commonwealth Secretariat is not working in isolation,” he stressed. “We are aligning our activities with the government’s strategic plans.” Miana reaffirmed the Commonwealth’s commitment to supporting Sierra Leone’s reform policies, particularly those aimed at achieving the SDGs and the government’s “Big Five” Game Changers outlined in the Medium-Te
rm National Development Plan (2024-2030).
Like many countries, Miana emphasized that Sierra Leone must maximize its limited resources to drive sustainable development. He called for capacity building, enhanced performance management, and more robust service delivery. He urged political reforms to create frameworks that promote coordination, monitoring, and community involvement through targeted training and structural improvements.
UNIDO Representative Mariatu Swaray urged the government to prioritize coordination and accountability, while the UNDP Representative Sayed emphasized the importance of continued reforms to accelerate development. He noted that institutional capacity building, auditing, and technological innovation are now essential for public administration.
Participants from key organizations such as FAO, JICA, and UNICEF rallied around the need for improved monitoring and evaluation systems. They called on the government to restructure the civil service and provide leadership training to enha
nce performance and drive the “Big Five” Game Changers and the National Development Plan forward.
Deputy Development Secretary of MoPED, Usman Conteh, speaking on behalf of the Minister of Planning and Economic Development, expressed gratitude for the support of development partners. He acknowledged the concerns raised, particularly around capacity gaps and administrative challenges, and advocated for localized training programs tailored to the country’s needs. Conteh further stressed the importance of rewarding performance in the civil service and encouraged partners to collaborate closely with the ministry to develop comprehensive solutions for long-term growth.
The meeting concluded with remarks from Dr. Kapuwa, Director of Performance Management and Service Delivery, and Dr. Sowa from the Chief Minister’s Office. They reiterated President Julius Maada Bio’s commitment to public sector reform, improved coordination, and continuous engagement with partners to ensure the successful implementation of develo
pment projects.
The Commonwealth’s engagement with Sierra Leone forms part of its mission to promote international cooperation in addressing social, economic, and humanitarian challenges while fostering respect for human rights and freedoms.
Source: Sierra Leone News Agency
