On Thursday, 2nd March 2023, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with funding provided by the UN Peacebuilding Fund (UN PBF), donated assorted items of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment to the Office of National Security (ONS). The donation was part of the UNDP/UNICEF UNPBF Project “Promote the creation of an enabling environment for the conduct of peaceful elections and the strengthening of social cohesion in Sierra Leone”. The main objective of the project is to support national institutions for the peaceful conduct of the 2023 general elections.
The equipment included 19 laptop computers, 1 coloured printer, 57 tablets, 2 routers, 1 projector, 10 mobile phones, toner cartridges and some office furniture.
When presenting the items, the UNDP Resident Representative, Pa Lamin Beyai, underscored the long-standing relationship between the UNDP and the ONS, the latter’s invaluable contributions to maintaining the peace and stability of Sierra Leone, and the importance of the ICT equipment in strengthening the ONS’ early warning and early response mechanism. He expressed hope that the Secretariat of the Integrated Elections Security Planning Committee (IESPC) and the National Situation Room (NSR) will use the ICT equipment to collect, collate and analyse security information from the field and respond to incidents in coordination with other national institutions before, during and after the June 2023 general elections.
The Deputy National Security Coordinator, Dr. Ahmed A. Sannoh, who received the items on behalf of the National Security Coordinator, Mr. Abdulai Caulker, thanked the UNDP profusely for the gesture, describing them as a critical partner to Sierra Leone’s developmental strides. He promised that the ONS will ensure that the items donated by the UNDP will be used for the intended purpose only.
In wrapping up his remarks, Dr. Sannoh echoed the unwavering commitment of the National Security Coordinator, Mr. Abdulai Caulker, and the leadership of the wider security sector, to providing the enabling environment for the peaceful conduct of the 2023 general elections.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (09/03/23)
