The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), in partnership with the German Ministry of Development and other partners, on 29th October 2026 launched the inaugural meeting of the National Advisory Committee (NAC) of the project titled: the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Fund for Regional Stabilization and Development (FRSD)-Sierra Leone at the conference hall of the ECOWAS Headquarters, Lumley in Freetown.
The main objectives of the project, that would focus on government development priorities, is to establish a shared understanding of the goals and governance structures of the FRSD project, share and adopt the NAC Terms of Reference, formally inaugurate the NAC and agree on the commencement of the Joint Technical Mission for the project selection.
In addition, a needs assessment in line with government priorities, will be conducted for beneficiary communities in areas like agriculture, health, education, energy, job creation, technical/vocational education, drug/substance abuse and climate change among others.
The project, which started in 2019, has been successfully implemented in The Gambia, Togo, Benin, Guinea Bissau and Sierra Leone will benefit from the experiences of the other countries where the project has been implemented.
In her keynote address, the MoPED Minister, Madam Kenyeh Barlay commended the German Government for its 9 million dollars support to the project highlighting that government wholeheartedly supports it, revealed that the project is aligned to Sierra Leone’s Medium Term National Development Plan and the Big Five Game Changers of improved agriculture, youth employment and connecting isolated communities to markets.
She added that the project would target riverine and border communities, that additional funds for the project are expected, underscored that investing in riverine and border communities is essential, that the project would be implemented within 18-24 months, that stakeholders, including the Ministries of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs, Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Technical and Higher Education, Youths and Energy respectively among others would carefully select the beneficiary communities.
According to the Minister, the project would prioritize the construction of schools, hospitals, markets, clinics, water and sanitation facilities, job creation for youths among others and emphasized the need for partners to be honest, committed and serve the people diligently as well as be transparent and accountable.
Madam Veerie, the Project Technical Lead, through zoom, enlightened about the mandate, governance and reporting lines of the project as well as the Terms of Reference stressing that the project would contribute to stabilization of peace, improve the living conditions and economic activities of the beneficiary communities, infrastructural development, good governance, conflict resolution and management of post-conflict situations.
It was also disclosed that the German Ministry of Development and MoPED would work with International and National NGOs in Sierra Leone to implement the project.
Earlier, the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Sierra Leone, Mr. John Azuma welcomed all to the event and wished the project every success.
Highlight of the well-attended meeting was the interaction and question and answer sessions.
