State House, Freetown, Thursday, 10 September 2026 – His Excellency, President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has called on Government and development partners to strengthen coordination, close critical financing gaps and accelerate implementation of national development programmes to deliver greater results for the people of Sierra Leone.
Speaking at the Presidential Development Partners Committee (DEPAC) meeting at State House, President Bio said the Medium-Term National Development Plan 2024–2030 and its Big Five Game Changers provide a clear roadmap for national transformation, but stressed that greater discipline, urgency and coordination are required to translate plans into results.
The President identified five priority areas: data, delivery and the 2026 Population and Housing Census; political stability and constitutional and electoral reforms; youth, agriculture and human capital development; macroeconomic stability, energy and private-sector growth; and development financing, coordination and accountability.
President Bio highlighted the urgent need to close the financing gap for the 2026 Population and Housing Census, estimated at US$37 million. He revealed that Government has committed US$24 million, of which approximately US$15 million has been disbursed, while development partners have committed about US$1.5 million.
He called for an urgent financing and disbursement plan to protect the Census timetable, with Census Night scheduled for 1 December 2026, stressing that reliable national data is essential for effective planning, resource allocation and service delivery.
On peace and democratic governance, President Bio described the return of former President Ernest Bai Koroma as an important opportunity to deepen national reconciliation and reduce political tensions.
He urged political leaders and citizens to reject inflammatory rhetoric, regional division, political intolerance and violence, while reaffirming Government’s commitment to peace, constitutionalism, due process and national unity.
The President also called for inclusive and nationally owned constitutional and electoral reforms ahead of the 2028 elections, including stronger electoral institutions, credible voter registration, transparent results management and effective electoral dispute resolution.
On youth and agriculture, President Bio stressed the need to move beyond subsistence farming by connecting young people to skills, finance, production, processing, markets and sustainable employment. He called for stronger alignment between Feed Salone and the Youth Employment Scheme to expand opportunities in commercial agriculture, agro-processing and agribusiness.
Addressing harmful drug and substance abuse, the President called for a comprehensive response combining prevention, law enforcement, mental-health care, treatment, rehabilitation, reintegration, skills development and employment support.
On the economy, President Bio reaffirmed Government’s commitment to fiscal discipline, domestic revenue mobilisation, improved debt management and protecting priority investments in food security, health, education and social protection.
He called for greater use of development resources to unlock responsible private capital, strengthen SMEs and women-led businesses, improve access to finance and expand investment in reliable electricity, renewable energy and climate resilience.
The President noted that the increasingly constrained international financing environment requires a more coordinated approach, combining domestic resources, concessional financing, climate finance and responsible private capital.
He directed the Ministers of Finance; Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; and Planning and Economic Development to present, within 30 days, a joint framework for development-partner coordination, financing predictability and mutual accountability.
“Government must lead; partners must align; and both must be accountable for results,” President Bio said, emphasising that every agreed action must have a responsible institution, a clear deadline and a measurable result, with progress monitored through the National Development Plan Tracker.
Representing development partners, UN Resident Coordinator Madam Seraphine Wakana reaffirmed their commitment to working with Government to strengthen democracy, promote sustainable peace and accelerate national development.
She welcomed the Government’s focus on peace and national cohesion, youth employment, data and digitalisation, and expressed readiness to support evidence-based decision-making and programmes aimed at improving governance and development outcomes.
The meeting concluded with Government and development partners reaffirming their commitment to stronger coordination, predictable financing and greater accountability for measurable development results.
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