Sierra Leone advances decentralization and local governance policies

The Government of Sierra Leone has initiated several measures to strengthen local governance and decentralization. Resident Ministers have been inaugurated as Chairmen of Regional Coordination Committees across the country. These committees aim to coordinate regional efforts and implement recommendations from recent consultations involving local councils, traditional leaders, and citizens.

Simultaneously, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) is developing the nation’s first Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) Policy. A technical committee meeting was held to establish a roadmap for consultations and resource mobilization, targeting a December 2026 completion. The policy is intended to provide a framework that recognizes the contributions of CBOs and improves coordination between communities, the government, and development partners without restricting their operations.