The Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Francis Kai-Kai, has commended Japan’s economic and development cooperation in Sierra Leone.
Speaking at Radisson Blu Hotel on March 3rd, 2022, during the “Event on Japan’s Bilateral and Multilateral Economic and Development Cooperation in Sierra Leone 2019-2022”, Dr. Kai-Kai said in large parts in Sierra Leone, Japan’s cooperation had distinguished itself, especially in the domains of Human Capital Development, Diversifying the Economy and Energy clusters of the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) 2019-2023.
“Overall Japanese aid has always come in handy in support of the (MTNDP) 2019-2023. We are proud to note that the Government of Japan mainly through its International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has been providing project support and non-project grants to Sierra Leone, aligning this support to the country’s development agenda”.
He pointed out that Sierra Leone certainly appreciates the long-standing relationship with Japan and was looking forward to strengthening it further in the upcoming Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) scheduled to hold in the Republic of Tunisia from the 27th-28th August, 2022.
“It is our hope that TICAD8 which is co-hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank and the African Union Commission would further strengthen the cooperation between Japan and Africa, with Sierra Leone in particular”, he ended.
In his opening statement, His Excellency Ambassador, Mochizuki Hisanobu expressed his delight at the occasion that introduces the projects the Government of Japan and various international organisations have partnered to implement in Sierra Leone between 2019 to 2022.
He said the projects were implemented across policy domains and are expected to complement national policies of Sierra Leone that seeks to make meaningful progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He thanked all the organisations who partnered with Japan on the great number of projects, adding that he hoped they would continue to build on the existing partnership.
The UN Resident Coordinator, Dr. Babatunde Ahonsi, in his statement said that Japan had demonstrated its commitment to the SDGs not only through domestic efforts, but also through development cooperation programmes with a range of countries, including Sierra Leone.
Dr. Ahonsi said Japan’s support has made possible UN work in critical areas including, but not limited to, Crisis Response, School Feeding, COVID-19 Response, Youth Empowerment, and Social Cohesion within communities.
“Japan is a key funding partner of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, the four-year, joint development cooperation programme between the UN Country Team and the Government of Sierra Leone”, He ended.
The Planned Parenthood Association of Sierra Leone (IPPF/PPASL) and other United Nation Agencies made presentations highlighting Japan’s Economic and Development Cooperation in Sierra Leone and how Sierra Leone has significantly benefited in the form of grants and technical assistance.
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