Sierra Leone's Chief Minister, David Moinina Sengeh, recently engaged with senior Harvard faculty members to discuss ongoing collaborations between the Government of Sierra Leone and Harvard University. The interactive session, co-chaired by Zoe Marks, Oppenheimer Faculty Director of Harvard's University-wide Center for African Studies, focused on knowledge, research, and projects that can impact national development. Sengeh highlighted the significance of these partnerships in driving progress in various sectors.
The engagement covered various areas, including health, where Vanessa Kerry of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health discussed work being undertaken through Seed Global, including the Triple Zero Campaign. Sengeh noted that this initiative has contributed to a significant reduction in maternal mortality in Bo and Makeni, with a reported 60 percent reduction, compared to a 30 percent reduction nationally. The Government plans to continue working through its national health compact based on the principles of "one plan, one budget, one report."
Education was another key area of discussion, with professors Fernando Reimers and Rob Jenkins of the Harvard Graduate School of Education highlighting Sierra Leone's efforts to move beyond access to focus on learning outcomes. Sengeh emphasized the Government's commitment to documenting best practices, expanding the use of technology in classrooms, and supporting efforts to share Sierra Leone's experiences globally. This collaboration aims to improve the quality of education in Sierra Leone.
The engagement also featured discussions on scientific research and innovation in Sierra Leone. Sengeh highlighted a partnership involving Sentinel, the National Public Health Agency, and Kenema Government Hospital, which has resulted in the complete sequencing of the yellow fever virus genome. This partnership demonstrates the potential for Sierra Leone to drive scientific research and innovation.
Other discussions focused on strengthening domestic revenue mobilisation, with Anders Jensen addressing opportunities to expand Sierra Leone's tax-to-GDP ratio, which Sengeh put at six percent. The Government is also working to combat cervical cancer, with over 34,000 women screened, and girls within the recommended age group receiving HPV vaccinations. These efforts aim to improve the health and well-being of Sierra Leoneans.
Artificial intelligence was also discussed, with John Mugane of Harvard's African Languages department highlighting the potential for developing language models for Africa's local languages. Sengeh described Sierra Leone as an incubator for knowledge development, research deployment, and impact through partnerships with leading global institutions. He attributed the continued engagement with these institutions to President Julius Maada Bio's leadership and commitment to international academic and research collaboration.
The collaboration between Sierra Leone and Harvard University demonstrates the potential for partnerships to drive progress in various sectors. Sengeh and Harvard faculty members emphasized the importance of continued engagement and knowledge sharing to drive national development. The partnerships with Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are expected to have a lasting impact on Sierra Leone's development.
Key points
- The Government of Sierra Leone and Harvard University are exploring partnerships in research, health, and education to drive national development.
- The partnerships aim to improve health outcomes, education, and scientific research in Sierra Leone.
- The collaborations demonstrate the potential for Sierra Leone to drive knowledge development, research deployment, and impact through partnerships with leading global institutions.
