Freetown, Sierra Leone — September 9, 2025: A four-day training workshop aimed at strengthening local governance and accelerating the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2063 commenced on Tuesday at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown. The event, themed “Localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Agenda 2063 in Sierra Leone: Advancing the Principle of Subsidiarity in Practice,” is jointly organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) of the African Union, and the Government of Sierra Leone.
Supported by the Government of Italy, the workshop is part of a regional initiative titled “Strengthening Local and National Government Capacities for SDG Localization in Africa,” implemented by UN DESA. The project seeks to enhance institutional capacities at both national and local levels, improve planning and service delivery, and raise awareness of Agenda 2063’s transformative goals.
Focus on Subsidiarity and Inclusive Governance
The workshop centers on the principle of subsidiarity—one of the 11 UN-endorsed principles of effective governance for sustainable development—which advocates for assigning responsibilities to the lowest effective level of government while ensuring coherence across governance tiers.
Participants include representatives from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), UN agencies, local councils, civil society organizations, development partners, and the media, drawn from across Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone’s Commitment to Localization Sierra Leone’s inclusion in the initiative reflects its ongoing efforts to localize the SDGs and strengthen multi-level governance. The country has actively participated in continental programs such as the APRM-UN DESA capacity-building initiative and has conducted Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) in three municipalities, offering a foundation for scaling up inclusive and aligned development strategies.
The 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 both emphasize the critical role of local governments in achieving sustainable development. When SDGs are embedded in local plans and budgets, and when communities are empowered to take ownership, progress accelerates and inclusivity is enhanced.
Delivering the keynote address, Chief Minister Dr. David Sengeh underscored the importance of partnerships and inclusive planning. He highlighted the government’s Big Five Game Changers, rooted in human capital development and aligned with AU and UN protocols. Dr. Sengeh called on local councils to promote digital tax payments, and emphasized radical inclusion, particularly for marginalized groups such as women and youth.
Minister of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), Madam Kenyeh Barlay, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to global development frameworks and acknowledged existing gaps in the national agenda. She urged participants to think innovatively and explore new revenue sources for local councils.
MoPED Development Secretary, Mr. Ambrose James, chaired the session, which featured contributions from: Ms. Adriana Alberti, Chief, Program Management and Capacity Development Unit, UN DESA; Mr. Fredrick Ampiah, Resident Representative, UNDP Sierra Leone; Mr. Tamba Lamina, Minister of Local Government and Community Development; and Ms. Nosipho Dhladhla, Facilitator, UN DESA Division for Public Institutions and Digital Governance
Accelerating Progress Toward 2063
The Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan (STYIP) of Agenda 2063, aligned with the SDGs, emphasizes responsive public institutions and citizen engagement. Accelerators such as multi-level governance, e-governance, and improved coordination are identified as key drivers for achieving national and sub-regional development goals.
As the workshop continues, stakeholders are expected to develop actionable strategies to embed SDG priorities into local governance frameworks, ensuring that no one is left behind in Sierra Leone’s development journey.