United Nations in Sierra Leone Newsletter Issue 2. December 2021

The blue flag renews confidence in the downtrodden. In the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Nations flag symbolises a life-saving response—to provide vaccines to everyone across the world. Here in Sierra Leone, the United Nations Country Team has worked together with partners, particularly the Government of Sierra Leone to not only respond to the pandemic but to ensure that development work continues to be implemented.

Through the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, we have ensured timely and sustainable response to the impact of the pandemic and supported the Government in its development ambitions as outlined by the Medium-Term National Development Plan.

Excellencies, while we are gathered here tonight to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the UN, the enormity of the task at hand calls for us to remind ourselves that with less than nine years left to achieve the SDGs, there is an urgent need to step up action. Realising the SDGs in any country requires a whole-of-society approach built on partnerships. The only way forward is through solidarity.

Therefore, on behalf of the United Nations, I would like to thank the Government of Sierra Leone for providing leadership for the COVID-19 response, while ensuring that we build back better from its impact. To our direct partners, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, thank you for the productive collaboration and continued partnership. I commend the tireless men and women, particularly the front-liners who have staked their lives to ensure that the rest of us are safe, protected, and healthy. I would also like to thank our development partners, that relentlessly supported Government efforts, ensuring that no one is left behind in our development interventions.

Thank you for your continued support—financially and technically, in striving towards the realisation of Sierra Leone’s vision of becoming a middle-income country by 2035. Finally, I want to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues, UN Heads of Agencies, Funds and Programmes and all UN staff who continue to uphold the core values of the United Nations in all facets of their work.