The Government of Sierra Leone on Monday officially opened the 2025 Policy Conference on Financing for Development, a high-level national dialogue aimed at mobilizing sustainable financing to accelerate delivery of President Julius Maada Bio’s Big Five Game Changers and the country’s vision of becoming an inclusive, green, middle-income nation by 2039.
The three-day conference, jointly convened by the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, the Ministry of Finance, and the United Nations, brought together development partners, private sector leaders, academics, civil society, and financial institutions to explore innovative solutions for domestic and external development financing.
In his keynote address, Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh emphasized that the conference builds on the vision of President Bio to accelerate national development. Highlighting Sierra Leone’s participation at the Seville Conference on Financing for Development, he stated that the event provides a platform to translate global commitments into concrete actions that benefit citizens, from expanding domestic revenue to supporting ordinary livelihoods.
Dr. Sengeh reaffirmed Government’s determination to deliver on the Big Five Game Changers—Feed Salone, Human Capital Development, Youth Employment, Public Service Reform, and Technology & Infrastructure stressing that strategic financing is critical to achieving these national priorities.
The conference aims to mobilize creative and innovative financing solutions to advance inclusive development. Key objectives include: Sharing knowledge on global best practices and innovative financial instruments; Advocating for policies that strengthen domestic revenue and regulatory frameworks; Building capacity for government and development finance professionals; Fostering partnerships across government, development partners, private sector, and civil society and Strengthening research to guide evidence-based financing decisions.
According to Minister of Planning and Economic Development Kenyeh Barlay, Sierra Leone will require at least US$2.6 billion in new financing over the next five years to fully implement the Medium-Term National Development Plan (2024–2030). She stressed the urgency of innovative solutions, financial inclusion, and leveraging private sector engagement to support the Big Five priorities.
The UN Resident Coordinator, Seraphine Wakana, highlighted the global US$4 trillion SDG financing gap and praised Sierra Leone’s proactive role in translating Seville commitments into national action. She called for stronger global partnerships and equitable financial reforms to support developing countries like Sierra Leone.
Dr. Samuel Bonzu, President of the Economics Association of Sierra Leone, emphasized the role of research and data in shaping sustainable financing policies, while Minister of Finance Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura presented strategic pathways for fiscal management, revenue mobilization, and investment to support national priorities.
The conference is set to deliver: Strategies to expand domestic revenue and reduce leakages; New investment avenues aligned with the Big Five Game Changers; Strengthened coordination among government, partners, and private sector and consolidated national action agenda to guide sustainable development financing and ensure effective delivery.
As Sierra Leone advances toward its 2039 vision, the Policy Conference marks a significant step in aligning national development priorities with sustainable financing solutions, ensuring that President Bio’s Big Five Game Changers translate into measurable impact for citizens.
