Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone , Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh shows the signed grant document to the delegates at the Forum
UNDP Sierra Leone / Eminence
In a significant stride toward promoting inclusive development, the Governments of Sierra Leone and India, in collaboration with the United Nations, have launched a transformative project aimed at economically empowering persons with disabilities across Sierra Leone.
The initiative, titled “Enabling Economic Independence for Specially Abled Persons in Sierra Leone,” was officially launched during the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) South-South and Triangular Cooperation Forum. The signing ceremony brought together Hon. Melrose Karminty, Minister of Social Welfare; Mr. Frederick Ampiah, UNDP Resident Representative; and Ms. Seraphine Wakana, UN Resident Coordinator. India’s High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Shri Baisnab Charan Pradhan, also witnessed the occasion, with the project formally presented to Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh.
Funded by the India-UN Development Partnership Fund with a total investment of $1 million, the project will be implemented by Ministry of Social Welfare in partnership with UNDP. It will provide vocational training, distribute assistive devices, and deliver entrepreneurship support to improve the economic self-sufficiency of persons with disabilities.
Mr. Frederick Ampiah, UNDP Resident Representative signs the grant document
UNDP Sierra Leone / Eminence
Minister Karminty recalled that the project originated from a high-level dialogue in New York last year with India’s Permanent Representative to the UN. “We raised the urgent challenges facing our disabled population, and India responded with genuine commitment,” she said.
High Commissioner Pradhan described the initiative as a beacon of South-South cooperation, emphasizing its potential to create long-term, transformative impact. “This is not just about how many people benefit—it’s about the deeper change we bring to lives, families, and communities,” he stated.
UNDP’s Frederick Ampiah reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to disability inclusion in Sierra Leone, noting ongoing efforts to support inclusive legislation, rehabilitate disability centres, and integrate persons with disabilities into wider economic and development programmes. He also lauded the India-UN partnership for investing in inclusive growth across the Global South.
With implementation now set to begin, the project signals a new chapter in South-South cooperation grounded in solidarity, shared priorities, and a firm commitment to ensuring no one is left behind.
Source: UNDP