By Foday Conteh
Sierra Leone’s parliament and civil society groups pledged to strengthen cooperation and improve transparency during a high-level dialogue aimed at deepening collaboration on governance and development, officials said on Tuesday.
The talks, held at the State Hall of Parliament to mark International NGO Week, brought together lawmakers, government officials, and representatives of non-governmental organisations under the theme “Bridging the Gap: Deepened Collaboration Between NGOs and the Parliament of Sierra Leone.”
Officials said the dialogue aimed to establish a more structured and continuous framework for engagement between parliament and NGOs, while addressing legal and bureaucratic barriers affecting civil society operations.
Director-General of Parliament Finda Fraser said the engagement marked an important step toward strengthening partnerships and reaffirmed parliament’s commitment to supporting collaboration in national development.
Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh said the dialogue builds on previous consultations between government and civil society on key national priorities, including human capital development, health and education.
“This engagement is a continuation of efforts to mobilise resources and foster national development through inclusive collaboration,” Jalloh said.
Speaker of Parliament Segepoh Solomon Thomas called for stronger institutional partnerships and urged stakeholders to develop a practical framework to guide sustained cooperation between parliament and civil society.
Lawmakers and NGO representatives discussed improving information sharing, increasing transparency through open governance initiatives, and ensuring civil society input in legislative processes.
Abdul Latif Sesay, chairman of the parliamentary committee on NGOs and the National Commission for Social Action, said the dialogue was an important step toward building trust and accountability between state institutions and civil society.
Government officials also emphasised the role of NGOs in supporting development programmes aligned with national priorities, particularly in sectors such as education, healthcare and agriculture.
The meeting was attended by government ministers, development partners, civil society organisations and members of the media.
