Chief Minister Collaborates with World Leaders
Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh has rallied behind world leaders, private-sector representatives, civil society organisations and development partners to mobilise $3.5 billion in financing for education on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, as part of a global effort to strengthen education systems and expand opportunities for children and young people.
The high-level event, convened by Italy, Nigeria and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) under its Multiply Possibility campaign, brought together partners to address the global education financing gap and strengthen investment in education systems. The mobilisation included $2.1 billion in confirmed and anticipated sovereign donor pledges to GPE, alongside $1.4 billion in co-financing commitments. GPE partner countries also announced $471 billion in domestic education-financing commitments.
GPE is a global partnership that works with governments, donors, international organisations, civil society and other partners to support the transformation of education systems, including by aligning external financing with national systems and strengthening countries’ capacity to deliver sustainable education outcomes.
Speaking at the gathering, Chief Minister Sengeh shared Sierra Leone’s experience in prioritising education as a central investment in human capital development. Drawing on his previous service as Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education and his engagement in international education initiatives, he highlighted Sierra Leone’s sustained commitment to education financing under the leadership of President Dr. Julius Maada Bio.
Dr. Sengeh highlighted Sierra Leone’s commitment to allocating around 20 percent of its national budget to education and cited a 92 percent budget-execution level, underscoring the importance of not only allocating resources to education but also ensuring that those resources are effectively implemented. Sierra Leone’s Human Capital Development agenda identifies maintaining 20 percent or more of the national budget for education as a core government action.
Chief Minister’s participation also provided an opportunity to place Sierra Leone’s education experience within the wider global discussion on sustainable financing, stronger education systems and improved learning outcomes. His contribution reflected the country’s engagement in international education partnerships aimed at mobilising resources, sharing policy experience and strengthening systems for long-term human capital development.
For Sierra Leone, increased and more effective investment in education directly supports the Government’s Big Five Game Changers, particularly Human Capital Development, which places education and skills at the centre of national transformation. Stronger education systems can help build the knowledge, skills and capabilities required to improve productivity, expand employment opportunities, promote innovation and support inclusive economic growth.
The engagement also aligns with the Medium-Term National Development Plan 2024–2030, under which the Government has identified human capital development as a central component of its national development agenda. The broader development framework emphasises stronger coordination, financing and accountability to ensure that national priorities translate into measurable results.
The financing commitments announced at the event are intended to help countries strengthen education systems and improve the effectiveness of education spending. GPE has emphasised the importance of aligning external financing with national systems to strengthen coordination, accountability and sustainability.
Chief Minister Sengeh’s participation therefore placed Sierra Leone’s experience within a broader global effort to close education-financing gaps and accelerate progress towards inclusive and quality education, while reinforcing the Government’s focus on translating investment in human capital into measurable development outcomes.
