UNICEF and the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) have called on Sierra Leone's lawmakers to increase and protect funding for children in the 2027 National Budget. The appeal was made during a parliamentary engagement on November 4 at the Country Lodge Hotel in Freetown. The meeting was attended by Members of Parliament and representatives of key parliamentary committees. The duo emphasized the need for stronger parliamentary oversight to ensure adequate resources for education, healthcare, nutrition, sanitation, social protection, and child protection.
PBO Director Ibrahim Jimissa urged lawmakers to utilize budget analysis and oversight tools to ensure public funds reach their intended beneficiaries. He noted that government spending decisions significantly shape the country's future. This call comes as children account for approximately 41 per cent of Sierra Leone's population. Moreover, two in three children are deprived of at least one basic need, highlighting the urgency for increased funding.
UNICEF Country Representative Mariko Kagoshima expressed concern over the limited funding for child protection, which is estimated at just US$0.66 per child annually. She emphasized that this is inadequate to address the needs of children in the country. Kagoshima also pointed out that increased funding would help address the deprivations faced by children, including inadequate access to education, healthcare, and nutrition.
The parliamentary engagement aimed to sensitize lawmakers on the importance of prioritizing children's needs in the budget. Participants were encouraged to scrutinize the 2027 budget to ensure that it adequately addresses the needs of children. This move is expected to enhance transparency and accountability in the allocation of resources for children.
The collaboration between UNICEF and PBO is part of a broader effort to promote child-centered budgeting in Sierra Leone. The two organizations have been working together to build the capacity of lawmakers to analyze and oversee budget allocations for children. This initiative seeks to ensure that children's needs are prioritized in national budgeting.
In line with this objective, UNICEF and PBO are supporting the development of a child budget tracking tool. This tool will enable lawmakers to monitor budget allocations for children and track expenditures. The introduction of this tool is expected to enhance transparency and accountability in the allocation of resources for children.
The 2027 budget is expected to be presented to parliament in the coming months. UNICEF and PBO have urged lawmakers to take a critical look at the budget to ensure that it prioritizes the needs of children. The outcome of this engagement is expected to have a positive impact on the lives of children in Sierra Leone.
Key points
- UNICEF and PBO urge Sierra Leone's parliament to increase funding for children in the 2027 budget.
- Children account for approximately 41 per cent of Sierra Leone's population, with two in three children deprived of at least one basic need.
- Limited funding for child protection is estimated at just US$0.66 per child annually.
