(SLENA, 8th September, 2022). The Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Francis Kai-Kai has signed an overall grant agreement of 30 Million United States Dollars to support Sierra Leone’s Economic Growth during a meeting with the USAID-Sierra Leone Country Representative, Nancy Godfrey and her Senior Leadership Team. This reflects the United States Government’s strategy for supporting Sierra Leone’s economic growth with an increase in the ceiling of the overall agreement from $USD 17 Million to $USD 30 Million.
They discussed the USAID’s assistance and status of interventions and the scope of the Development Objective Assistance Agreement (DOAG).
In her brief statement, Nancy Godfrey said the grant would include a $USD 6 Million to support Sierra Leone in maintaining its history of peaceful elections by engaging private citizens, civil society, and the media in electoral process oversight, as well as constructive and peaceful dialogue.
She said the support would also bolster the resilience of persons with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities to the effect of climate change; and also support the World Food Program’s (WFP) lean season food security assistance and school feeding.
Minister Kai-Kai expressed his appreciation to USAID for their continued support to the Government of His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio and his New Direction Agenda.
He said it was important for government to continue deepening bi-lateral relationship with development partners, adding that the meeting was an opportunity for government to understand the work of USAID and appreciate their long-term sustainable development activities in the health, democracy and governance, energy, and private sector investment.
“This government is determined to continue deepening its long-standing bi-lateral relationship with the USAID and other development partners. This meeting is an opportunity to demonstrate that but also an opportunity for me to understand the work of USAID in the country and in order to update His Excellency President Bio on what exactly your organisation does in the areas of Health, governance and all the other sectors that you operate in”, says Minister Kai-Kai.
He assured USAID of government’s commitment to their overall support to Sierra Leone. A presentation of their interventions in the health, democracy and governance among other was done before the brief signing ceremony.
