By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara
The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) has launched a three-day stakeholder consultation for the ECOWAS Regional Fund for Stabilisation and Development (FRSD) Technical Mission, marking a significant step towards identifying priority investments aimed at strengthening resilience and promoting inclusive, sustainable development across Sierra Leone.
The consultation, held from 21 to 23 July 2026 at the Ministry’s Conference Hall in Freetown, brings together representatives from the ECOWAS Commission, the Government of Germany, development partners, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), local councils, civil society organisations and other key stakeholders. The objective is to ensure that interventions under the Fund are aligned with Sierra Leone’s national development priorities while addressing the underlying causes of fragility in vulnerable communities.
Officially opening the consultation, the Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Madam Kenyeh Barlay, described Sierra Leone’s participation in the ECOWAS Regional Fund as a timely opportunity to accelerate socio-economic transformation while improving resilience in communities most affected by poverty, insecurity and limited access to essential services.
She reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ensuring the effective and timely implementation of the programme, emphasising that all proposed interventions must be consistent with the country’s Medium-Term National Development Plan (2024-2030) as well as the emerging Chiefdom Development Plans.
Minister Barlay further called for the swift establishment of the National Advisory Committee (NAC), warning that unnecessary administrative and procurement delays could undermine the programme’s effectiveness. She urged stakeholders to prioritise high-impact, community-driven initiatives capable of creating employment opportunities, improving livelihoods, strengthening local resilience and expanding access to critical public services.
Addressing participants, the ECOWAS Resident Representative to Sierra Leone, H.E. John Azumah, announced that Sierra Leone became the newest beneficiary of the ECOWAS Regional Fund for Stabilisation and Development following the Fund’s 10th Steering Committee Meeting held in Banjul, The Gambia, in March 2026.
According to him, the technical mission represents the beginning of a collaborative planning process through which national priorities will be identified and translated into practical interventions that reflect Sierra Leone’s development aspirations.
He commended the Government of Sierra Leone for its commitment to the initiative and acknowledged the continued support of the Government of Germany, KfW Development Bank and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) in making the programme possible.
Representing the German Government, GIZ Country Director Raphael Frerking reiterated Germany’s commitment to supporting the successful implementation of the Fund in Sierra Leone. He encouraged stakeholders to ensure that available resources are directed towards targeted interventions that align with national priorities and produce measurable development results within the implementation period.
The ECOWAS Regional Fund for Stabilization and Development was established by the ECOWAS Commission with financial support from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The Fund finances programmes in areas including social infrastructure, entrepreneurship, youth and women’s empowerment, governance, capacity development and social cohesion, with the overall objective of strengthening resilience in fragile communities across West Africa.
Throughout the consultation, participants reviewed the Fund’s implementation framework, governance arrangements and financing mechanisms. Discussions also focused on priority investment sectors, gender inclusion, security considerations and the proposed composition of the National Advisory Committee that will oversee implementation at the national level.
The three-day technical mission is expected to conclude with the adoption of a national roadmap outlining Sierra Leone’s priorities under the Fund. It will also identify key intervention areas, designate sector focal points and lay the groundwork for a comprehensive needs assessment that will inform the country’s National Intervention Strategy under the ECOWAS Regional Fund for Stabilisation and Development.
The initiative is expected to strengthen cooperation between Sierra Leone, ECOWAS and international development partners while supporting long-term peace, stability and inclusive economic growth through targeted investments in vulnerable communities.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 27th July 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
