By Politico Staff Writer
The European Union Delegation (EUD) to Sierra Leone has announced the inclusion of the country’s two newest districts in a project designed to enhance decentralization efforts of the government.
The announcement comes with the provision of an additional 2 million euro grants to the programme. This move, according to a press released from the EUD, was taken at the first Project Steering Committee Meeting of the ‘Support to Civil Society and Local Authorities for Local Development in Sierra Leone’ project on December 3rd.
This project, funded through a 23 million euro grant from the EUD, was designed to last for five years and aims at supporting the Government of Sierra Leone’s effort to deepen decentralization and promote local governance and economic development in the country.
The Project Steering Committee (PSC) was established by the Financing Agreement signed in 2018 between the Government of Sierra Leone and the European Union Delegation.
The EUD Project Management Unit was established under this project to provide support to the councils in the implementation and management of the grants. It works with key stakeholders including councils, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Parliament, civil society and the media to ensure transparent and accountable delivery of the activities outlined in each of the grants.
PSC meeting which took place in the Conference Room of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MOPED) was co-chaired by the Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Francis Kaikai and the EU Ambassador, Tom Vens. The rider to the Financing Agreement was signed at the opening of the two-and-half hour long meeting by the ambassador and the Minister.
The PSC is said to be the highest decision-making structure, and in its December 3rd meeting it reportedly reviewed the progress made, discussed opportunities identified, and addressed the challenges encountered in the implementation of the project. This include broader issues arising from the individual grant contracts of civil society organisations and District Council administrations in the four districts of Bombali, Kambia, Kenema and Pujehun currently funded under the programme.
The decisions of the Project Steering Committee centred around strengthening implementation, improving coordination and synergy with other government priority programmes and facilitating improved understanding, and promoting dialogue among the various stakeholders.
According to the press release, the PSC also addressed a wide ranging issues, including reaffirming the Government of Sierra Leone and the European Union Delegation’s commitment to strengthening decentralization and local governance and promoting local development, approving the Terms of Reference of the Project Steering Committee (with the recommendation to include a representative from among civil society organisation grantees). It also provided strategic guidance to addressing clarity on the local revenue generation and the roles and need for cooperation between local councils and chiefdom councils; tax exemptions for imports under the project in line with the Cotonou Agreement; the need for greater convergence in policy and in particular harmonisation between central government and local councils’ human resources management policy; and improving fiscal decentralisation and accountability in the local councils.
The PSC meeting was adjourned with recommendations to the Project Management Unit to continue to energise debate on some of the substantive issues for the consideration in the next PSC meeting.
Copyright © 2020 Politico Online
