MoPED Conference Room, Friday 17 June, 2022– The Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Francis Kai-Kai has today received Eight (8) new Country Directors (CD) from GOAL Sierra Leone, Medecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Belgium and MSF Holland, Humanitarian Relief Foundation, Talking Drum Studio, WeltHungerhilfe Sierra Leone, Restless Development SL and Community Organisation Development and Empowerment-Sierra Leone at his Tower Hill office in Freetown.
Introducing the Country Directors, Eric Massally, the National Director for NGO Affairs explained the impressive and versatile backgrounds of the CD’s in the development sector, humanitarian work and administration, adding that the Country Directors were bringing several years of experience in the various sectors that they operate.
The Country Directors, on their part thanked the Minister for the warm reception and his continued approach in creating the enabling environment for the NGOs, adding that they were really looking forward to deepening the good working relationship with the government through the Ministry.
Explaining their various interventions in the various sectors, the CDs registered key milestones they have achieved in their areas of operation, especially in the education, health, youth and social services sectors. They noted that their organizations would continue to support the government in its development aspirations.
In his remarks, Minister Kai-Kai congratulated the Country Directors on their appointment to their new offices. He stressed on the role played by non-governmental organizations in complementing the efforts of government during the pre, post war and development era.
Minister Kai-Kai reiterated President Bio’s commitment and recognition of the role played by NGOs that continuously deliver services, adding that the President considers NGOs as critical actors to nation building.
He said the NGO community should continue partnering with government to provide development services, especially in the areas that are the hardest to reach in the country.
“President Bio extols delivery, and he loves NGOs that deliver to the last mile promoting national development, we believe that both parties must work closely to ensure mutual trust, confidence and transparency within a strengthened partnership framework…
“We remain committed to providing the enabling environment for NGOs who continue to show willingness to support the people of Sierra Leone and to operate and contribute to national development in a free, responsive, transparent and accountable manner”, Dr. Kai-Kai ended.
The Minister explained the policy oversight role that the Ministry provides to the operations of NGO activities, ensuring that they are effectively coordinated and monitored to increase performance, as recommended by the Development Cooperation Framework, which according to him, comprehensively covers areas of cooperation.
The eight Country Directors include: Alpha Kamara, Talking Drum Studio, Ishmail Yilmaz, Humanitarian Relief Foundation James Riak Mathiang, GOAL Sierra Leone, Elisa Galli MSF Belgium- Sierra Leone, Omer A. Abdallah MSF- Holland Mission for Sierra Leone, Stephano Temporin WeltHungerhilfe- Sierra Leone, Lesley Garura Restless Development Sierra Leone and Sybil Bailor, CODE-SL.