Minister Kenyeh Barlay Presents Sierra Leone’s 4th VNR at UN Forum, Showcases Progress on SDGs Implementation
NEW YORK, July 16, 2024 – In a compelling presentation at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, Madam Kenyeh Barlay, Minister of Planning and Economic Development of Sierra Leone, showcased the country’s progress and outlined the challenges and strategies in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This marks Sierra Leone’s fourth Voluntary National Review (VNR) following previous reports in 2016, 2019, and 2021.
Minister Barlay expressed deep gratitude to the United Nations for organizing the forum, emphasizing its significance for least-developed countries (LDCs). She highlighted the 2024 theme, “Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises: the effective delivery of sustainable, resilient, and innovative solutions,” as a crucial platform for collaborative efforts to advance the SDGs.
In her address, Minister Barlay detailed the roadmap for the VNR process, underscoring Sierra Leone’s commitment to integration and ownership of the SDGs. She emphasized that the 2024 VNR Report aligns with the country’s Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) 2024-2030, which serves as the foundation for operationalizing the SDGs, particularly through the Sierra Leone SDG Acceleration Roadmap.
“This year’s VNR process coincides with the beginning of the implementation of the MTNDP 2024-2030,” Minister Barlay stated. “The MTNDP will guide the Government’s strategic policy direction for the next seven years and operationalize the Sierra Leone SDGs Acceleration Roadmap.
This High-Level Political Forum allows the country to present to the world progress made in the implementation of the SDGs despite the challenges of multiple crises, and the strategies it has laid out in the new plan to accelerate progress in achieving the goals by 2030. Additionally, it offers a platform to engage with development partners and increase investment opportunities in the country, as well as secure financing for the new Medium-Term Development Plan.”
Minister Barlay noted the importance of sustaining initial gains in achieving sustainable development, including improving the welfare of Sierra Leonean citizens and consolidating peace and security. She emphasized that regular review of the process, both from within and outside the country, is crucial. As a global leader in the SDGs review process, Sierra Leone leveraged the 2024 HLPF platform to maintain its leadership in bringing countries together to share experiences and learn best practices on strategic thematic areas such as gender mainstreaming.
Minister Barlay highlighted the government’s strategic focus on the “Big Five Game Changers,” which include “Feed Salone,” Human Capital Development, the Youth Employment Scheme, Technology and Innovation, and Transforming the Public Service Architecture. These initiatives are designed to foster sustainable economic transformation and align with key SDG targets. The flagship “Feed Salone” program aims to achieve food security, stimulate economic growth, and reduce poverty, directly supporting the SDGs.
Despite significant progress, Minister Barlay acknowledged the challenges Sierra Leone faces, particularly heightened food insecurity and poverty exacerbated by global crises and climate change. She called for urgent and collective actions to address these issues, urging sustained support from the international community and the UN system.
Minister Barlay also highlighted the importance of global partnerships and integrated efforts to close funding gaps that hinder SDG progress. Sierra Leone is exploring innovative financing mechanisms, such as climate finance, to tackle fiscal challenges.
In her closing remarks, Minister Barlay reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s dedication to collaborating with the UN and multilateral institutions. She advocated for solidarity and resilience in building sustainable economies, stressing that collective action is essential for achieving the SDGs.
For further information, please contact the Ministry of Planning & Economic Development Communications Team at +23279174027 or visit the Ministry’s official social media handles: @moped2024 on Facebook and Twitter