Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh officially inaugurated the national NGO Week on Thursday, marking the first time the country is celebrating the work of NGOs since the event gained global recognition in 2014.
Organized by the Sierra Leone Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (SLANGO), the event themed “Empowering Communities for Sustainable Development” aims to bolster collaboration between the government and civil society in tackling national development challenges.
The gathering convened representatives from NGOs, government agencies, and development partners to restrategise their approaches toward community empowerment and sustainable progress.
The vice president emphasized that NGOs play a crucial role in supporting government initiatives to alleviate poverty and fragility within communities. He drew upon his extensive experience at the United Nations and ECOWAS to highlight the importance of collaboration between NGOs and governments.
While acknowledging persistent hurdles like funding access, coordination gaps, and community engagement issues, he expressed optimism that the NGO Week would strengthen partnerships and redefine strategies.
Recognizing NGOs’ invaluable contributions to national development, Dr. Jalloh, with a background in civil society and international development, choed the need for NGOs to adapt to evolving global challenges and shrinking development aid financing. He urged them to reflect on positioning themselves for greater impact, refining strategies, and leveraging innovation to ensure community-driven, sustainable interventions.
Dr. Jalloh commended the NGOs for what he described as their tireless efforts in transforming lives through close collaboration with President Julius Maada Bio’s government, development partners, the private sector, and local communities.
He highlighted their critical role in bridging service delivery gaps, particularly in vulnerable communities, and encouraged them to seize new opportunities amid shifting global priorities.