By Sorie Ibrahim Fofanah
ActionAid, Sierra Leone has launched its fourth country strategy document to guide their operations from 2024 to 2028.
Keynote Speaker at the launch in Freetown on Wednesday 7th February, Chief Minister, David Moinina Sengeh Ph.D stated that the three key areas highlighted in the strategy document are aligned with their government's values and principles of inclusivity, resilience, and sustainable development and hoped that the new strategy succeeds.
He thanked the organisation for supporting the government and the people of Sierra Leone through their activities. "As a government and country, we are very proud of the stewardship of ActionAid," he went on.
The Chief Minister said both government and ActionAid should hold each other accountable and that the organisation lives up to what has been stated in the strategy document.
ActionAid Board member, Emmanuel A. B. Turay stated that to ensure an equitable and just society, ActionAid works with communities to deliver basic services and influence policies that sustain human dignity.
He said the guiding document "shows ActionAid's commitment to accountability and transparency to the people of this country’’, hence the reason they called the workers to read out their budgets and explain how they expend and do their work.
A representative of the European Union in Sierra Leone commended ActionAid for fighting poverty, strengthening citizens’ engagement and good governance, and fighting injustice, among others. She added that they share the same commonalities with ActionAid.
"We at the European Union really like what ActionAid has done," she reiterated.
She wished the new strategy of ActionAid would contribute to the successful implementation of national as well as local developments.
Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Kenyeh Ballay in her statement commended ActionAid for their "hard work and contributions" they have made to the country, adding that the organization has “consistently" been at the forefront of community-driven development.
In his welcoming address, the Head of Programmes, ActionAid Sierra Leone, Mohamed Fofana said the strategy document can play a key role in addressing poverty. Fofana noted that their document is aligned with the Big Five Game Changers of the Government of Sierra Leone. He called on the public to hold them accountable for their commitments as indicated in their plans. "Transparency and accountability is the hallmark of our values," the Head of Program added.
Speaking about their successes, the Executive Director of ActionAid Sierra Leone, Foday Bassie Swaray said their focus is to work towards justice, and support communities through the help of civil society organisations in finding the root causes of poverty, among others. Despite these successes, he added that they have recorded over the years challenges that influence their new strategic plan, such as access to public services, gender inequality, public financial accountability, and climate crises.
He noted that the new plan is the fourth to be put in place since ActionAid started its operation in Sierra Leone.
He said forty-six million, four hundred and seventy-three thousand, three hundred and ten million new Leones is the budget for the 2024 financial year.
ActionAid is a non-governmental oraganisation that has been operating in Sierra Leone since 1988. They partner with both local and international organisations.
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