The Development Assistance Coordination Office (DACO) was established in 2003, within the Office of the Vice President to provide for a structured aid coordinating mechanism. The main functions of DACO at the time was to establish a mechanism for dialogue between development partners and the Government of Sierra Leone on issues of national interest; and develop a database for tracking aid flows to Sierra Leone thereby limiting duplication and wastage of much needed resources. It later became part of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED). In 2018, MoFED was split into 2 ministries- the Ministry of Finance (MoF), and the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), with DACO being part of the latter.

However, the role of DACO has evolved over the years and now within the ministry of planning and Economic Development, DACO performs the following functions among others:

• The periodic review and publication of Sierra Leone’s Development Cooperation  Framework.
• Facilitation of dialogue between the Government of Sierra Leone and its Development partners through the Development Partnership Committee (DEPAC) meetings.
• Publication of Annual Development Assistance reports and Development Encyclopaedia
• Provision of technical support to the Minister of Planning and Economic Development in performing his/her functions as Chair of the g7+ group of fragile states and co-chair of the International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and State-Building.
• Leading the localization of International Development Effectiveness Framework such as the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States and the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC).
• Acting as principal liaison between the Government and Donor Partners.
• Serve as secretariat of Elections Steering Committee meetings during electioneering periods.
• DACO also provides technical support and act as focal point for the Ministry on issues pertaining to Sierra Leone’s membership of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) group.