By Amin Kef (Ranger)
The Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, has reiterated the Government’s unwavering commitment to building a stronger, more transparent and accountable partnership with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) across the country.
He made this declaration during the Government–NGO Dialogue Day, held on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown, under the theme: “Strengthening Partnership and Creating the Enabling Environment for Non-Governmental Organisations.” The high-level event brought together cabinet ministers, parliamentarians, civil society leaders, development partners and representatives from both national and international NGOs to discuss mechanisms for deepening collaboration and mutual accountability in national development.
In his keynote address, Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh lauded the immense contributions of NGOs in driving progress across multiple sectors, including education, healthcare, agriculture, food security, gender equality, environment and youth empowerment. He described NGOs as indispensable partners in achieving the Government’s Big Five Game Changer Agenda and the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP).
“Your work continues to transform lives, strengthen communities and deliver services to the most vulnerable Sierra Leoneans,” Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh stated. “The Government values your partnership not only as implementers but as contributors to policy formulation, planning and accountability.”
He acknowledged that while NGOs have long complemented Government efforts in service delivery, the time had come to build a more structured, transparent and integrated partnership framework.
Highlighting policy actions aimed at improving collaboration with NGOs, the Vice President referenced the National NGO Policy 2023, which provides a clear and coherent framework for engagement between Government and civil society actors. He also cited the Nationwide Civic Day Series and the inclusion of civil society groups and the media in the annual budget process as key reforms enhancing public participation and transparency.
“These measures are designed to deepen trust, coordination and accountability in governance and service delivery,” he explained. “They demonstrate our administration’s belief that partnerships thrive where there is mutual respect, clarity and shared goals.”
Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh further disclosed plans to institutionalize the Government–NGO Dialogue as an annual accountability and reflection platform, where both parties could assess progress, address challenges and plan future interventions.
“Our goal is to make this dialogue a permanent fixture on the national calendar; an opportunity each year to strengthen cooperation and renew our shared commitment to national development,” he said.
Addressing the realities of declining global aid, the Vice President observed that international funding to developing countries had dropped significantly in recent years, with Sierra Leone’s health sector alone experiencing a funding cut of over $40 million between 2024 and 2025.
“These trends remind us that we must strengthen our domestic systems and resilience,” he noted. “We cannot depend indefinitely on external support. We must increase local production, improve tax collection and encourage private sector investment to sustain our development agenda.”
To ensure sustainability, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh introduced what he called the Integrated Approach; a framework designed to align NGO activities with Government systems to promote long-term capacity building.
“I strongly believe that NGOs should operate alongside and within national systems, not outside them,” he emphasized. “Every international expert working in Sierra Leone should have a Sierra Leonean counterpart to ensure knowledge transfer and continuity. We want systems that last beyond project timelines.”
In his statement, Ambrose James, Development Secretary at the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), underscored the need for stronger accountability and coordination within the NGO sector. He revealed that some NGOs begin implementing projects without finalizing their Service Level Agreements (SLAs), a situation that undermines transparency and compliance.
He urged NGOs to ensure timely submission of activity data to aid the monitoring of the Medium-Term National Development Plan and called for closer collaboration with local councils and community leaders to promote sustainability. “Innovation and collaboration remain key to advancing Sierra Leone’s development goals,” he added.
Representing the NGO community, Ms. Davina Jeffery, Co-Chair of the INGO Forum Steering Committee, expressed gratitude to the Government for opening a platform for dialogue but raised concerns over funding cuts, taxation and bureaucratic hurdles. She reported that global aid to Sub-Saharan Africa had dropped by nearly 25%, forcing several NGOs in Sierra Leone to scale down or close operations.
She appealed for a review of Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) taxation policies and NASSIT requirements for short-term international staff, as well as streamlined reporting procedures to avoid duplication between MoPED and Parliament.
“We need a fair, transparent and simplified system that allows NGOs to focus more on delivery and less on administrative bottlenecks,” she said.
Delivering his statement, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma, Leader of Government Business in Parliament, emphasized that all NGO operations must comply with Section 110 of the Constitution, which mandates proper registration and alignment with national laws and policies. He reaffirmed Parliament’s oversight role and commended Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh for initiating what he termed a “timely and transformative platform” for partnership and accountability.
“This dialogue demonstrates leadership, foresight and commitment to inclusive governance,” Hon. Sahr Nyuma stated. “We in Parliament stand ready to support and strengthen this framework for the good of our people.”
Concluding the event, Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh reaffirmed the Government’s openness to continuous dialogue and collaboration with NGOs and other partners to ensure inclusive and sustainable national growth.
“This gathering is not just an event; it is a renewed commitment,” he said. “Together, through partnership, innovation and shared accountability, we can build a stronger, fairer and more resilient Sierra Leone.”
