The Commissioner of the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA), Ambassador Ernest Mbaimba Ndomahina, held a high-level meeting with the UNHCR Director for West & Central Africa, Abdourakuf Gnon-Konde, on the sidelines of the 76th UNHCR Executive Committee (ExCom) Session at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The discussion focused on deepening strategic cooperation and advocating for durable solutions for refugees and host communities in Sierra Leone.
The leaders discussed mobilizing donor support, strengthening institutional capacity, and advancing policy reforms to enhance refugee protection and integration.
Commissioner Ndomahina underscored the urgent need for joint UNHCR-NaCSA advocacy to secure critical funding for refugee programs through partners like UNDP. He highlighted the “Tenki Salon Project” as a flagship initiative supporting the phaseout strategy for the remaining refugee caseload in approximately nine communities by promoting durable solutions and preventing statelessness.
The Commissioner also called for multi-donor support to scale up socio-economic infrastructure projects that benefit both refugees and host communities, thereby fostering peaceful coexistence.
A key appeal was made for UNHCR’s diplomatic intervention to expedite the release of an ECOWAS-approved humanitarian fund of $287,000. This fund, earmarked for identity documentation and cash transfers to vulnerable refugees, is critical to sustaining momentum and credibility in Sierra Leone’s regional humanitarian cooperation.
Ambassador Ndomahina further requested UNHCR’s support in advocating for the Free Movement of Persons and Migration (FMM) and Demand Driven Facility (DDR) initiatives under the ECOWAS-EU partnership. He emphasized the importance of cross-border coordination and proper legal documentation to promote safe passage, facilitate reintegration, and prevent irregular migration.
Reaffirming Sierra Leone’s commitment to international protection standards, the Commissioner announced plans to revise the 2007 Refugee Protection Act and requested UNHCR’s technical guidance. This assistance is needed to resolve the institutional conflict of interest arising from NaCSA’s dual role in both Refugee Status Determination (RSD) and the appeals process.
In closing, Commissioner Ndomahina acknowledged UNHCR’s longstanding partnership with Sierra Leone, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to regional cooperation, and proposed a follow-up technical session. NaCSA also reaffirmed its willingness to share registration data with UNHCR to improve coordination and requested technical support to strengthen the national refugee database and RSD infrastructure.
In his response, UNHCR Director Abdourakuf Gnon-Konde commended President Julius Maada Bio for his deliberate actions in addressing the challenges faced by refugees and displaced persons in the sub-region. “Mr. Commissioner, your President is doing a lot for Sierra Leone and the sub-region,” said Mr. Gnon-Konde. “We want to visit him to see how we can learn from his valuable experience as Chair of ECOWAS in dealing with Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Sierra Leone, and share our experience with him about the 13 million IDPs and refugees, with the DRC having the highest number.”
He reaffirmed his organization’s support for deepening refugee protection and cooperation on multilateral issues, leveraging Sierra Leone’s sub-regional experience.
