The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) in Sierra Leone has initiated the 29th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee of Senior Officials and Experts (ICSOE) for West Africa. The event, which started on October 28, 2026, in Freetown, brings together policymakers, development experts, and international partners. The theme of the three-day meeting is "Unlocking the Potential of Young People in West Africa: Pathways to Employment, Economic Transformation and Resilience." Minister Kenyeh Barlay delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the importance of investing in the region's young population.
Minister Barlay, representing Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, highlighted that young people are West Africa's greatest asset. She stressed that governments must prioritize skills development, healthcare, and enterprise support to enable them to contribute to economic growth. Barlay warned that failing to create opportunities for young people could lead to increased frustration, drug abuse, and irregular migration. She urged regional experts to develop practical solutions to address these challenges.
Sierra Leone's development priorities, as outlined in the government's Medium-Term National Development Plan 2024–2030, focus on human capital development, with youth employment identified as one of the Big Five Game Changers. The government aims to create at least 500,000 jobs for young people by 2030 through its Youth Employment Scheme. Additionally, the government is investing in education, technical and vocational training, agriculture, and other productive sectors. The Free Quality School Education programme and the Feed Salone initiative are also contributing to human capital development and employment creation.
Despite these efforts, underemployment, informal work, limited access to finance, skills mismatches, and climate-related challenges continue to constrain employment opportunities across the subregion. Minister Barlay called on delegates to move beyond discussions and develop measurable commitments with clear targets, timelines, and accountability mechanisms. She encouraged participating countries to commit to practical measures that improve employment prospects and economic opportunities for young people.
The meeting is expected to provide a platform for regional cooperation and policy recommendations aimed at unlocking the economic potential of West Africa's growing youth population. Director of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Subregional Office for West Africa, Ngone Diop, emphasized the need to connect investments in education and skills with productive employment and broader economic transformation.
The three-day meeting will enable delegates to share experiences, best practices, and innovative solutions to address youth unemployment and accelerate economic transformation in West Africa. The expected outcome is an action-oriented Freetown Declaration on youth empowerment, which will encourage participating countries to commit to practical measures that improve employment prospects and economic opportunities for young people.
The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) is optimistic that the 29th ICSOE Session will yield concrete results and commitments from participating countries. The Freetown Declaration is expected to be a significant outcome of the meeting, providing a framework for regional cooperation and policy recommendations to address youth unemployment and accelerate economic transformation in West Africa.
Key points
- The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) in Sierra Leone has initiated the 29th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee of Senior Officials and Experts (ICSOE) for West Africa.
- The government aims to create at least 500,000 jobs for young people by 2030 through its Youth Employment Scheme.
- The meeting is expected to provide a platform for regional cooperation and policy recommendations aimed at unlocking the economic potential of West Africa's growing youth population.
