The UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt, has concluded a two-day visit to Sierra Leone. During this visit, he called on African countries to take stronger action to address the "silent pandemic" of lives lost in road crashes. The Special Envoy underscored that the African continent suffers the greatest loss of lives, the highest burden on the health system, and the most significant loss of GDP due to road traffic injuries. According to a new WHO report, Africa was the only continent to record an increase in the figures for victims on African roads, with a mortality rate of 19 per 100,000 people, while in Europe, the rate is 7 deaths per 100,000. In Sierra Leone, there are 14 deaths per 100,000 (WHO 2021). In his engagement with President Julius Maada Bio and First Lady Fatima Bio at State House on his first full day of the visit, he entreated the President to work with his Rwandan counterpart, President Kagame, for road safety to be given the highest consideration at the African Union in their pursuit of the "Africa We Want." The African Union Agenda 2063, spanning 2024 to 2033, is a bold and ambitious blueprint to build on progress towards and the quick implementation of "The Africa We Want". It will also contribute to achieving the goal of the second Decade of Action for Road Safety to half the number of road traffic deaths by 2030. Today, around 1.2 million people die, and 50 million are injured each year as a result of road crashes."We need strong leaders committed to speaking about road safety to save lives, and your support, together with President Kagame and other African Union Member States, would be a game changer", said the Special Envoy, Mr Jean Todt.On Sierra Leone, he said his visit was to discuss with the authorities how partnerships with the private sector, the United Nations, development partners, influencers, and other stakeholders would ensure the attainment of SDG 3.6 and SDG 11.2. That is, to halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic crashes and improve access to safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport for all. Mr. Todt pointed out that the good news is that we know the prescription for success, but it requires the whole society to work together to tackle the issue.In Sierra Leone, Mr Todt said he has seen many two-wheelers (Okada riders) riding their motorbikes with helmets but too many others without, and even many of those with them are using helmets that are not safe or not being used safely. "They need to be UN-compliant, ventilated helmets, which can cost less than USD 20$. Ensuring their availability requires private sector involvement to produce and provide these helmets responding to UN safety standards for riders."The President responded that road safety is a major concern and requires concerted effort from every Sierra Leone. He promised to engage with other African Union Member States to push for road safety on the AU Agenda and for ECOWAS to give the issue due consideration. "The UN can join the efforts of the Government to address the issue," President Bio said while promising the Envoy that he has his full support.At a stakeholder event Mr. Todt and the First Lady held at the State House afterwards, the Special Envoy said he hoped Sierra Leone would be a leader in Africa to address the silent pandemic and that the country is an ideal partner.The head of the Sierra Leone Roads Safety Authority (SLRSA), Smart K. Senessie, said the country is in a hurry to tackle the road safety emergency. "We need to do more to address issues of road safety."In an earlier engagement with the United Nations Country Team, he said road crashes are the number one killer for youth aged 5-29 years in Africa and that to address the issue requires education, speed law enforcement, safe quality vehicles, good quality roads, and rules against drunk driving and use of telephones while at the wheel.Mr. Todt encouraged the Country Team to explore avenues with the United Nations Road Safety Fund, which is about to launch a call for road safety project proposals, and with the UN Global Compact to see how it can cooperate with the Government to make our roads safer. On Wednesday, his last day, he visited the SLRSA project site on the outskirts of Freetown, where he was welcomed with a quarter guard parade consisting of eighteen personnel, including three females, under the command of Route Commander Saidu Kamara.The stakeholders called for UN leadership and support, which is crucial to ensure that no journey ends in tragedy.The Special Envoy responded that he would be committed to addressing road safety and that WHO Sierra Leone would follow up .He ended his visit with a tour of the Surgical Centre in Goderich, operated by EMERGENCY NGO. The hospital, the only one that treats patients for free in the entire country, received 900 admissions in 2023, with 270 of them from road crashes, according to Dr Giuseppe Meucci (Interim Medical Coordinator).The climax of his 2-day mission was a press conference with the First Lady, who is also part of the high-level network of the Friends of the Special Envoy, including senior representatives from Government, international institutions and civil society, including former Ivorian International footballer Didier Drogba who is also engaged in a new UN global advocacy campaign for road safety #MakeASafetyStatement .The First Lady said it was good that the Envoy visited to "see our vulnerable side and for him to understand the country's needs in terms of road safety"."Mr. Todt said he was leaving the country full of hope because he saw commitment and engagement, but its success depends on a collective effort.According to SLRSA figures, in the first quarter of the year, 29 road crashes led to death, 146 severe injuries and 94 minor injuries. WHO reports on a road fatalities rate of 14 per 100,000 population (WHO 2021).There are an estimated 1.6 million bike riders among the country's approximately 8 million population, and they are the main victims of traffic crashes in Sierra Leone.The next major meeting for road safety on the global level will be in Africa during the 4th Global Ministerial Conference for Road Safety in Marrakesh, to be held on 18-19 February 2025.  

In her first ministerial Development Partnership Committee (DEPCAC) meeting since she assumed office as UN Resident Coordinator (RC) to Sierra Leone last Thursday, Seraphine Wakana assured development partners of the UN Country Team's commitment to working with the Government to realise the Big 5 game changers and enablers of the Medium-Term National Development Plan (2024-2030).DEPAC, held every quarter at the Ministerial level, brings together development partners and the Government to discuss development priorities around the new plan. Normally, a Presidential DEPAC chaired by the President of Sierra Leone is held in the last quarter, though he can call for an ad hoc meeting when he deems it fit.In her convening role as co-chair, which she shares with the World Bank Country Manager Abdou Muwonge and the Minister of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) Kenyeh Barlay, Seraphine Wakana said that the commitment will be made by working through the Sector Working Groups and all other structures of the Plan. She emphasised that   Coordination, information sharing, and accountability are crucial to our successful cooperation.  The DEPAC was held at the Foreign Service Academy under the theme 'Alignment and Realignment to support the implementation of the MTNDP 2024-2030.' Ms Wakana said that the Government's speedy drafting and launch of the new Plan was a vital step towards coordinated action and signalled its commitment to achieving transformative change, sustainable progress, and inclusive development. "The National Plan is not merely a document but a blueprint for action – a vehicle for galvanising and organising meaningful cooperation between Government and Development Partners," she said. According to the RC, translating the vision contained in the Plan into tangible actions requires not only commitment by the Government and partners but also strategic planning at the sector level, realistic costing and prioritisation, well-functioning coordination mechanisms, clear communication channels, and effective monitoring to continuously assess the progress of implementation.  She encouraged the Government to demonstrate strong leadership in all sectors and demonstrate the political will, commitment, and transparency essential for driving change and overcoming challenges. The RC also acknowledged the implementation challenges to be overcome, including limited resources, capacity constraints, external shocks, and global uncertainties, which can significantly impact the ability to deliver the Plan. "These challenges require that we commit ourselves to new and innovative ways of problem-solving, efficient collaboration, and continuous learning," she said. In her opening remarks, Minister Kenyeh Barlay said there was a sense of urgency in Sierra Leone's whole planning process and emphasised the need to see how steps can be taken to move the implementation of the Plan forward. She also focused her remarks on the Plan's coordination, monitoring, and resourcing.Manager Abdoul Muwonge discussed how the implementation of the MTNDP will evolve and lauded the Government for integrating and building on the previous Plan. He also praised the Government for developing a plan transcending the political cycle. He ended by stressing that the impact of the investment in the Plan must be tracked and that the efficiency of its implementation is crucial. Minister Barlay also gave a presentation focusing on coordination, financing, monitoring, and evaluation with six framing questions.The discussions moderated by the World Bank Country Manager centered around the above, including how stakeholders can align new and realign existing interventions with the MTNDP and effectively address trade-offs and what strategies promote mutual accountability among stakeholders for plan implementation.The ministers of Technical and Higher Education, Social Welfare, Administration and Political Affairs, Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Fisheries and Marine Resources, Water Resources and Sanitation, the Deputy Ministers of Finance (2), Tourism, and Agriculture were in attendance. Together with the Commissioner General of the National Revenue Authority, the Statistician General, and the Head of the National Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate, Government officials intervened on coordination, financing, and monitoring. Key takeaways include operationalising the Plan, how it can be financed effectively, coordinating to avoid duplication, and effective means of monitoring and evaluating the milestones. Other attendees included heads of UN agencies, ambassadors of the United States, Ireland, the EU Delegation, and the Secretary-General of the Mano River Union.

In her first meeting with President Julius Maada Bio at State House today, UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC) Seraphine Wakana indicated to him that the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) will focus on the Government's Big 5 game changers as it prepares its next United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework to be implemented from 2025 to 2030. The Big 5 game changers aim to accelerate economic growth and build resilience. They include Feed Salone, Human Capital Development, Youth Employment, Revamping the Public Service Architecture, and Tech and Infrastructure. According to President Bio, these strategic priorities have been embedded in the Medium-Term National Development Plan (2024-2030) that will soon be launched. The UNRC expressed gratitude to H.E the President for accepting her appointment by the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to serve in Sierra Leone and that, during her one month in the country, she has already met with government officials, including the Chief Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and the Minister of Planning and Development, and these engagements have been productive. Madam Wakana also congratulated Sierra Leone on its election to the UN Security Council (2024-2025) as a non-permanent member and looks forward to a productive tenure in advancing peace and security in the region and the globe. "The UNCT is available to support the country's tenure," she said. She used the courtesy call, also attended by the Chief Minister and the Chief of Staff, to express condolences to the Government for the security personnel who lost their lives on November 26. She also briefed the President on the Cross-Party Elections Review Committee's work, which she co-chairs with a representative from the government and one from the opposition All People’s Congress (APC). In his response, President Bio said he was happy to have Ms Wakana in Sierra Leone serve as UNRC, and he referred to the long-standing relationship between the UN and Sierra Leone since the country became a member of the organization. The President assured the UNRC of his government’s support and cooperation on all matters of peacebuilding and development. President Bio said his government was dealing with a range of issues, including the current security situation, in addition to the 5 Big game changers to stimulate economic growth as his priority.   He called for partnership in addressing issues around the economy, food security, nutrition, and employment through the Feed Salone agenda. President Bio also said his government was fully committed to addressing electoral reforms and that Sierra Leone's unique experience of settling its problem after a protracted civil war in the early 90s is what it hopes to take to the Security Council.

During a courtesy call on the Minister of Planning and Development, Ms Kenyeh Barlay, yesterday, UN Resident Coordinator (RC) Seraphine Wakana congratulated her on consultative efforts underway for developing the Medium-Term National Development Plan (2024-2030). The RC observed that the national document priorities closely mirror the six transitions prioritized by the UN Secretary-General.  These transitions are considered as investment pathways for countries to deliver the SDGs, with catalytic and multiplier effects across all the 17 Goals. Similar to the Government's Big Five Game Changers – Feed Salone, Human Capital Development, Youth Employment Scheme, Revamping the Public Service Architecture and Tech and Infrastructure, the UN’s six transitions are (1) food systems; (2) energy access and affordability; (3) digital connectivity; (4) education; (5) jobs and social protection; and (6) climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Ms Wakana emphasized the importance of the Government’s national development plan as an input for the UN Country Team to produce the next UN Cooperation Framework,  ensuring the UN Framework is aligned with the development priorities of the country, as well as the SDGs.  She informed Minister Barlay that the UN counts on MoPED to work with the Country Team on consultation efforts and other processes during the development stages of the Cooperation Framework, which will have a timeframe from 2025 to 2030. In discussing the role of the Resident Coordinator office, the RC explained, "My office is at the strategic level to ensure that the UN Country Team works in synergy." She promised to work towards that objective so that the UN coordinates its development support to the Government. In her response, Minister Barlay explained that the Plan is centered around the Big 5 Game Changers, plus enablers such as governance and accountability, diversifying economic growth, environment and climate change, and implementation partnerships and financing. She noted that she ‘hit the ground running’ in her new role due to her development background and having worked in the same Ministry several years back.  She mentioned that she had a very good working relationship with the previous RC, whom she worked with for only 100 days when she assumed office. Minister Barlay also said she looks forward to working with the RC and the World Bank as co-chair of the Development Partnership Committee (DEPAC).