The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) in Sierra Leone has called for enhanced accountability, improved inter-ministerial coordination, and timely action on district development priorities. This call was made during a meeting of the National Steering Committee on District Development Coordination held at the Ministry's conference room in Freetown on October 27, 2026. The meeting reviewed progress on district-level coordination and assessed outstanding action points and challenges affecting local governance and development projects.
The meeting was chaired by Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Kenyeh Barlay, with Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs, Tamba John Lamina, serving as co-chair. Senior government officials and representatives of relevant ministries, departments, and agencies attended the meeting. Minister Barlay emphasized the importance of District Development Coordination Committees (DDCCs) in linking national development priorities with local community needs. She stressed the need for improved communication between ministries and local councils, stronger monitoring of agreed actions, and timely responses to district-level concerns.
Minister Barlay noted that NGO coordination platforms were operational in 15 districts, while challenges persisted in the Western Area Urban. She emphasized the need for sustainable financing, effective monitoring of memoranda of understanding (MoUs), and increased public awareness of development activities. The Minister also highlighted the importance of stronger collaboration between government institutions, local councils, and development partners to reduce duplication and improve accountability in development interventions.
Co-chair Minister Lamina highlighted the importance of decentralization and effective local governance, particularly the role of ward committees in identifying and addressing community needs. He called for the restoration of funding for ward committees to enable them to perform their responsibilities effectively. The Director of Rural Development, M'balu Adjaratu Kamara, provided an update on rural development coordination, outlining progress on MoUs signed with ministries and the need for stronger monitoring and follow-up.
The committee examined a range of unresolved district-level concerns requiring attention from relevant institutions. These included support for vulnerable people and drug-peddling concerns in Kambia, a boundary dispute between Koinadugu and Tonkolili, incomplete school projects, and wetland encroachment in Bo. The committee also reviewed findings from the September 2026 evaluation of the Youth Farm Project, covering its implementation from 2019 to 2025, which highlighted weak coordination, unclear responsibilities, and funding gaps.
Deputy Minister of Finance I, Kadiatu Allie, stressed the importance of timely responses from ministries and national institutions to issues referred from districts. The committee agreed to circulate meeting minutes and consolidated action points to members and relevant ministers, follow up on delayed transfers to local councils and funding for ward committees, and recirculate the MoU tracker. Ministries were expected to respond to issues referred from districts, document actions taken, and communicate feedback to affected local councils.
The meeting reaffirmed MoPED's commitment to enhancing district development coordination and service delivery. Minister Barlay described the meeting as productive and urged members to implement agreed actions without waiting for the next annual meeting. She proposed holding committee meetings twice a year, with an additional meeting before the end of the year if necessary, to assess progress and address unresolved issues.
Key points
- The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development calls for stronger accountability and inter-ministerial coordination to enhance project implementation and service delivery across Sierra Leone.
- The National Steering Committee on District Development Coordination reviews progress on district-level coordination and assesses outstanding action points and challenges affecting local governance and development projects.
- The committee agrees to follow up on delayed transfers to local councils and funding for ward committees to ensure effective implementation of district development priorities.
