The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), through its EU- funded Sierra Leone Democracy Strengthening Project, held a partnership coordination meeting with all 15 partners of the project.
The Sierra Leone Democracy Strengthening Programme is a three- and half-year programme funded by the European Union and aimed at supporting the conditions for credible and transparent elections, and the political processes after the 2013 elections. The project was initially designed as a 2-year intervention to support the 2023 elections in Sierra Leone and reforms in the year after. Following the outcome of the 2023 elections, the programme recently extended 18.5 months by the donor-EU, to largely focus on electoral and governance reforms in Sierra Leone including the implementation of the tripartite committee recommendations and EU Election Observation Report.
To promote ownership and coordination, the project is designed to be guided by its partners through periodic partnership coordination meetings to provide overall strategic leadership in programme implementation and promote collaboration among partners and stakeholders. The stakeholders’ meeting held on Friday 28th February 2025, was a high-level partnership coordination meeting that brought together major project stakeholders including the Ambassador Jacek Jankowski, EU Ambassador to Sierra Leone, International IDEA’s Regional Director for Africa and West Asia, Dr Roba Sharamo, Hon Alpha Sesay, Sierra Leone’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, the Chairmen of the Electoral Commission and the Political Parties Regulation Commission, and all the other 15 boundary partner of the project, to discuss, among other things, programme coordination and the implementation of the Tripartite Committee Recommendations
Speaking during the opening session of the meeting, International IDEA’s Regional Director for Africa and West Asia, Dr. Roba Sharamo expressed gratitude to partners and stakeholders for their cooperation and commitment in the implementation of the programme, noting that ‘the basis for the success of the Sierra Leone Democracy Strengthening programme is rooted in the support provided by the partners and donor collaboration in the implementation process.’
Commending the work of International IDEA under the project, the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Mohammed Konneh noted the Risk Electoral Management Tool provided by International IDEA helped us in identifying risk factors during the 2023 Presidential and general elections. This was extended to capacity building of our staff which has concluded. And in recognition of the support International IDEA has provided to us, as part of my legacy, I will facilitate and ensure that International IDEA is fully registered in Sierra Leone
The EU Ambassador, HE. Jacek Jankowski emphasized the EU’s commitment to supporting electoral reforms and said that through the project and other electoral reform programmes funded by the EU in Sierra Leone, the EU hope to deepen peace and democracy in Sierra Leone. ‘The goal is to assist the Sierra Leonean authorities in the implementation of the Tripartite Agreement and in building trust and social cohesion in compliance with the Agreement. The EU is fully engaged in providing technical and financial support in the implementation of the Tripartite Agreement; and is interested in the implementation of key recommendations that will lead to peaceful, free, and fair elections in 2028,’ he concluded.
Giving his keynote statement and responding to the EU Ambassador, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Hon Alpha Sesay emphasizes government commitment to the implementation of the Tripartite Committee Recommendations, detailing the progress made so far and the pending interventions. He noted that the government want people to look at justice as a service that the government owes the people of this country, our engagement with International IDEA will help achieve that goal. I have discussions with International IDEA to help us convene a national dialogue on the type of electoral system – we want as a country. I would like to use this as an entry point for broader engagement in strengthening the rule of law, electoral reforms, and access to justice.’
The climax of the meeting was the official signing of two Memorandum of Understanding between International IDEA and two new partners under the project. The first MoU with the Parliament of Sierra Leone to strengthen the legislative capacity of Parliament to effectively contribute to the meaningful implementation of the tripartite committee recommendations, while the second MoU was with Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion to strengthening peace promotion and national cohesion in Sierra Leone.