Minister Barlay Addresses Mid-Term Review Meeting on Accountable Governance for Basic Service Delivery Project
MoPED Conference Hall, June 5, 2024: A pivotal meeting between the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) and the World Bank team was held to review the mid-term progress of the Accountable Governance for Basic Service Delivery Project (AGBSDP – P172492). This project, supported by the World Bank, focuses on improving governance and service delivery in Sierra Leone.
The mid-term review aimed to highlight the successes and challenges of the following projects under MoPED:
The operations of the District Development Coordinating Committees (DDCC) at national and local council levels, The review of development plans for local councils and Updating the costing template for development projects and integrating it into the 2025 national budget.
Minister Kenyeh Barlay, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, welcomed the appraisal team and expressed gratitude to the World Bank for its support. She emphasized the progress made since the project’s commencement in 2022, particularly in institutionalizing the DDCCs and integrating the Public Investment Program (PIP) of Local Councils into the national budget.
“From the feedback I have received and my participation in the Annual Review and Planning Sessions, I am pleased that we will be able to ascertain progress and identify bottlenecks to further improve our implementation record,” Minister Barlay stated.
She outlined significant progress under the Rural Development component, where DDCCs have become permanent structures within local councils. The Public Investment Management Directorate successfully included Local Councils’ PIP in the national budget for the first time. Additionally, the Planning, Policy & Research Directorate supported harmonizing district development planning.
However, Minister Barlay acknowledged concerns about delays in receiving “No Objection” approvals, which hinder the timely release of funds and procurement activities. These delays particularly impact the Rural Development Directorate, affecting the predictability of DDCC meeting dates and overall project implementation.
Minister Barlay stressed the need for consistent support in line with the Local Government Act, which mandates bi-monthly DDCC meetings. She also highlighted the pending approval for preparing PIPs for the 2025 national budget, crucial for consolidating Public Investment Programmes in Local Councils.
Minister Barlay emphasized the importance of government ownership in development projects, aligning with the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation’s principle of Country Ownership. She advocated for the government to lead project activities, ensuring alignment with the National Development Agenda and the Big 5 game-changers outlined in the MTNDP 2024-2030.
She expressed optimism for the review meeting, anticipating updates on DDCC operations, the review of development plans, and the integration of costing templates into the national budget. She reiterated MoPED’s commitment to taking charge of the development budget to enhance national planning, budgeting, and plan execution.
Madam Barlay assured the World Bank of continued cooperation and commitment to the project’s success. She encouraged frank discussions to address bottlenecks and implementation challenges, setting the stage for a productive mid-term review.
Lida Btedinni, the Task Team Leader, who joined by zoom and co-TTL John Hodge, reiterated that the AGBSDP is a $40 million collaboration aimed at improving transparency, resource management, and accountability in Sierra Leone’s governance system. Launched in February 2022, the project addresses challenges such as weak coordination, fragmented institutional structures, and data management issues.
Discussions at the roundtable focused on “No Objection” approvals, local climate actions, district planning processes, progress in the DDCC process, report writing, sustainability issues, and increasing the visibility of the implementation process.
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.