By Sallieu S. Kanu
Freetown, Sierra Leone – 30 June 2025: Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL) has intensified its collaboration with development partners ahead of the 2026 Decennial Population and Housing Census (PHC ’26), following a strategic meeting with the Embassy of Ireland at its Saint Joseph’s Avenue offices in Freetown.
Led by Statistician-General Mr. Andrew Bob Johnny, the high-level engagement focused on resource mobilization, technical preparedness, and fostering sustained donor partnerships. Mr. Johnny commended the Government of Sierra Leone’s strong commitment, noting that over $22 million had already been allocated to critical components such as mapping, IT infrastructure, and logistics. However, he highlighted a remaining $15 million funding gap, urging international stakeholders and the private sector to contribute to what he called a “nation-building exercise.”
Representing the Irish Embassy, Ms. Carol Hannon, Head of Development, lauded the census initiative as vital to national development planning and expressed Ireland’s interest in offering support—pending internal consultations. She acknowledged the census as a pivotal tool for generating credible data to inform long-term policy decisions.
Also present was Ms. Sibeso Mululuma, Officer-in-Charge of UNFPA Sierra Leone, who reiterated the agency’s unwavering commitment to guiding and coordinating donor interventions. She emphasized the potential for Ireland’s national statistics office to contribute in-kind support, particularly in upholding international best practices.
Other key attendees included Stats SL’s National Census Coordinator Mr. Abdulai Salliah Brima, Chief Technical Adviser Mr. Edouard Talnan, and Directors from Finance, Communications, and GIS units, as well as UNFPA’s Quality Assurance