AYV News, March 3, 2025
The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED)and the Sierra Leone Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (SLANGO) has organised a press conference at its Tower Hill headquarters to inform the media about the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Week on the theme: ‘Empowering Communities for Sustainable Development.’
Officially launching the NGO Gazette, the Minister of MoPED, Madam Kenyeh Barlay revealed that the week-long event is to among others engage the media about the work NGOs are doing in the country, that the event is historic, the first in the history of the country although it is celebrated worldwide to acknowledge the work of NGOs in the country and informed that the NGO Week started on 21st – 28th February 2025.
She further stated that the MoPED and NGOs have created a platform for collaboration, dialogue and discussions and appealed to the media to publicize the work of NGOs not only during the NGO Week but beyond, that there are over 600 registered NGOs working in the country making the difference and that their staff includes volunteers.
Madam Kenyeh Barlay continued that government is fully committed to collaborate with NGOs working in the country as it has proven that their activities are aligned to the Medium-Term National Development (MTNDP) and other government activities in the health, education, gender equality, the environment and climate change sectors among others.
According to the Minister, the media must sensitize the public about the activities of NGOs in the country beyond the NGO Week and beyond, the shared responsibility to deliver and create a better future for every Sierra Leonean.
The MoPED Minister furthered that the NGO Gazette proves the authenticity of all registered NGOs in the country considered worthy of partnership with the Government of Sierra Leonepointing out that some NGOs are operating illegally upcountry and extorting monies from unsuspecting members of the public.
She also disclosed that the NGO Week would be an annual event and that they would use the opportunity to launch the status report of NGO interventions in the country.
Alice James of SLANGO informed that there are 400 national and 100 international NGOs operating in the country, that over the years, SLANGO has evolved with a strategic plan to coordinate the activities of NGOs in the country as well as effectively manage its activities and finances.
The Country Director of Helen Keller International underscored that NGOs are complementing the work of government, especially the MTNDP and the 5 Big Game Changers pointing out that a lot of work is going on the health, education and agriculture sectors highlighting improvement in maternal mortality from 1,765 per 1,000 live births to 400 over the past ten years.
The Director of NGO Affairs, MoPED, Mr. Eric Massalaydisclosed that they have digitalized the registration process for NGOs and now working on same for the Service Level Agreement and also creating the enabling environment for NGOs to operate.
The activities of the NGO Week, set-aside by the United Nations to acknowledge the work of NGOs, include a Health Walk, Media Engagements, an event at the Miatta Conference Center and a Dinner on 28th February 2025.
Earlier, the Development Secretary, MoPED, Mr. Peter Sam-Kparka welcomed all to the ceremony.
The question and answer session climaxed the well-attended event.
