By James Conteh
Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has officially opened Sierra Leone’s inaugural Government–NGO Dialogue, stressing the importance of trust, transparency, and joint accountability in national development.
The event, held as a follow-up to the launch of the National NGO Policy in October 2023, brought together government ministers, NGO leaders, and development partners to engage in direct conversation on how to align efforts for the benefit of citizens.
In his keynote address, VP Juldeh praised the collaborative spirit between NGOs and government institutions, stating that civil society organisations remain critical partners in achieving national goals in education, healthcare, agriculture, environmental protection, and gender inclusion.
“The NGO community has always played a vital role in Sierra Leone’s progress. Your work directly supports the Big Five Agenda and our Medium-Term National Development Plan. Today’s dialogue is not just a meeting, it is a platform to deepen coordination and trust,” the Vice President said.
Acknowledging the ongoing challenges posed by global reductions in aid, VP Juldeh called for a shift toward domestic resilience. He encouraged NGOs and government entities to explore ways of reducing dependence on external funding by strengthening local capacity and promoting sustainability.
