Remarks by UN Resident Coordinator at the Public Presentation of the UN Annual Results Report for 2021

The Honourable Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh

Honourable Minister of Planning and Economic Development and Co-Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework Joint Steering Committee, Dr Francis Kai-Kai

Honourable Ministers and representatives of the Government of Sierra Leone’s ministries, departments, and agencies,

Members of the Diplomatic & Consular Corps,

Distinguished representatives of our implementing partners,

Colleagues from UN Agencies, Funds & Programmes

Representatives of Civil Society and Non-Governmental Organizations, the private sector, and the media,

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen

On behalf of the United Nations Country Team in Sierra Leone, I am delighted to welcome you to the Public Presentation of the UN Annual Results Reports for 2021. The UN Country Team leads the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2020-2023, with its steering committee co-chaired by myself and the Minister of Planning and Economic Development.

The report being presented today is the UN Country Team's means of taking stock of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework's implementation, by 18 UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes in Sierra Leone. The UN Annual Results Report for 2021 catalogues the development advances made notwithstanding our new normal - the COVID-19 pandemic and its socio-economic impact and other debilitating challenges.

For example, despite the pandemic's impact on basic services, the UN Country Team's support contributed to the 36 per cent increase in children enrolled in basic and secondary education from 2020 to 2021 and enabled two million children to receive their regular vaccines. We supported a new scheme to boost food production in schools, now piloted in 17 schools. Over 14,000 children can now access water and sanitation facilities, and an additional 100,00 people have access to basic water supply.

Furthermore, the UNCT contributed to improved access to renewable energy, building over 80 mini-grids in rural areas and benefiting nearly 300,000 people. In addition, 123,000 crisis-affected persons benefitted from food and cash transfers, while 2,000 women who survived violence received quality attention and care, and 16,000 girls received access to health and protection services.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

As you have seen from the video, the UN support to the Government and people of Sierra Leone goes beyond the examples I have highlighted. They also demonstrate our concerted efforts to deliver coherent, efficient, and effective programmatic and operational activities against the four outcomes of the Cooperation Framework in 2021.

At this point, I would like to recognize the fruitful partnership that the UN Country Team continues to enjoy with the Government of Sierra Leone, its people, and our development partners. The collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), as co-chair of the Cooperation Framework Joint Steering Committee and the Ministerial Development Partnership Committee (DEPAC), has enhanced the UNCT's capability in delivering as one and in ensuring that no one is left behind in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of sustainable development activities.

Looking forward to 2022, the UN Country Team will continue to focus on implementing the Cooperation Framework, including the activities adopted from the UN COVID19 Socioeconomic Response Plan. Our efforts on collective partnerships and resource mobilization will be reinvigorated. Innovative funding streams and catalytic partnerships will also be better explored, including South-South cooperation and non-financial partnership.

Moreover, recommendations from national consultation drives, including the Food Systems Summit Dialogue and the National Youth Summit’s Magburaka Declaration, will be implemented and mainstreamed in UNCT activities while also maintaining a focus on climate resilience, gender equality and disability inclusion.

Excellencies, let me end these remarks by recognizing my colleagues whose leadership made these results possible, the members of the UN Country Team. I would like to request the following colleagues to join me on the podium.

• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) represented by Harding Wuyango, Officer-in-Charge
• International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) represented by Joseph Brima, Country Programme Officer
• International Labor Organization (ILO) represented by Tonderai Manoto, Chief Technical Advisor
• International Organization for Migration (IOM) represented by James Bagonza, Head of Office
• International Trade Centre (ITC) represented by S. Shiaka Kawa, National Coordinator
• The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), represented by Isaac Ahemesah, Country Director
• United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) represented by Wycliffe Ngwabe, Country Lead and Technical Specialist
• United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) represented by Pa Lamin Beyai, Resident Representative
• United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) represented by Suleiman Braimoh, Country Representative
• United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) represented by Mariatu Swaray, Country Representative
• United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) represented by Jolanda Jonkhart, Country Manager a.i.
• United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) represented by Ibrahim Sambuli, Resident Representative a.i.
• United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UNWOMEN) represented by Setcheme Jeronime Mongbo, Head of Office
• United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) represented by Steve Nsubuga, Representative and Country Director
• World Health Organization (WHO) represented by Steven Velabo Shongwe, Country Representative a.i.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the UN Country Team, I would like to thank you again for the continued support and partnership.