By Komba Fillie
In a significant stride toward sustainable development, Sierra Leone is hosting a pivotal four-day workshop focused on localizing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Africa’s Agenda 2063. The event, organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), and the Government of Sierra Leone, underscores the country’s commitment to translating global frameworks into tangible local actions . Supported by the Government of Italy, the workshop aims to enhance institutional capacities for accelerating SDG implementation and deepening the impact of local planning, budgeting, and service delivery.
The workshop, themed “Localizing the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063 in Sierra Leone: Advancing the Principle of Subsidiarity in Practice,” emphasizes the principle of subsidiarity a governance approach that assigns responsibilities to the most effective level of government while ensuring coherence across tiers . This principle, endorsed by the UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration in 2018, is critical for achieving inclusive development. Participants include representatives from ministries, local councils, civil society, UN agencies, and development partners, all collaborating to align Sierra Leone’s national priorities with continental and global commitments. Sierra Leone’s experience with Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) in three municipalities provides a strong foundation for scaling up actions and promoting inclusive planning.
Sierra Leone’s Medium-Term National Development Plan (2024–2030) explicitly integrates the SDGs and Agenda 2063, reflecting the country’s dedication to resilient and transformative growth. Agenda 2063, Africa’s blueprint for socioeconomic transformation, outlines seven “Moonshots,” including achieving middle-income status, enhancing regional integration, and fostering responsive public institutions. The Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan (2024–2033) of Agenda 2063 emphasizes resilience, domestic financing, and citizen engagement—themes central to the workshop. This alignment ensures that global agendas are contextualized to address Sierra Leone’s unique challenges, such as data gaps, financing constraints, and coordination complexities.
The workshop focuses on practical strategies to overcome implementation barriers. Key among these is enhancing domestic resource mobilization to reduce illicit financial flows and promote local revenue generation, such as digital tax systems. Strengthening data-driven monitoring through initiatives like the National Result Framework, which tracks SDG indicators, is also a priority. Multi-stakeholder engagement is emphasized to ensure inclusivity, with partnerships between government, civil society, and private sectors playing a crucial role. Chief Minister Dr. David Sengeh highlighted the importance of radical inclusion for marginalized groups, while Minister of Planning and Economic Development Madam Kenyeh Barlay called for innovative financing solutions for local councils.
Sierra Leone’s pioneering efforts in Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) position it as a model for other African nations. The workshop aligns with broader regional and global initiatives, such as the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026–2035), which recognizes transport as a catalyst for achieving SDGs like clean energy, sustainable cities, and infrastructure development. The 2026 ECOSOC Partnership Forum will further highlight these themes, emphasizing transformative actions for the SDGs. By sharing its experiences, Sierra Leone contributes to regional learning and cooperation, reinforcing Africa’s collective ambition for an “integrated, prosperous, and peaceful Africa driven by its citizens”.
The workshop represents a critical step toward achieving the Africa envisioned in Agenda 2063. By localizing global goals, Sierra Leone not only addresses its unique challenges but also demonstrates the power of subsidiarity and inclusivity in driving sustainable development. As the world navigates complex crises, Sierra Leone’s commitment to contextualizing global agendas offers a blueprint for ensuring that no one is left behind. The outcomes of this workshop are expected to resonate beyond national borders, inspiring similar efforts across the continent and advancing the global pursuit of a sustainable future for all.
