Vice President of Sierra Leone, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, officially launched the country’s first-ever NGO Week Celebrations on Thursday, 27 February 2025, at the Miatta Conference Centre in Freetown.
Organized by the Sierra Leone Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (SLANGO), the event, themed “Empowering Communities for Sustainable Development,” aims to strengthen collaboration between the government of Sierra Leone and civil society in addressing national development challenges.
The gathering brought together representatives from various NGOs, government agencies, and development partners to discuss strategies for enhancing community empowerment and sustainable progress.
Dr. Jalloh, who previously worked extensively with international organizations, including the United Nations and ECOWAS, emphasized the crucial role of NGOs in complementing government efforts to lift communities out of poverty and fragility.
He acknowledged persistent challenges in the sector, such as access to funding, coordination gaps, and community engagement issues, but expressed optimism that the NGO Week would serve as a platform for strengthening partnerships and redefining strategies.
VP Juldeh Jalloh called for greater dialogue between the government and NGOs to ensure more effective collaboration in driving national development.