UN Agencies Weekly Highlights - 8-12 September

RCO

UN Resident Coordinator a.i. highlights SDG localization at DESA’s Localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2063 in Sierra Leone workshop.   

Last week, the SDGs Localization Workshop was convened by UNDESA, APRM, and the Government of Sierra Leone, as part of a global initiative to accelerate the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063. The workshop brought together government, UN, partners, and civil society to explore how global goals can be translated into community-based outcomes.

UN Resident Coordinator a.i., Mr. Fredrick Ampiah, stressed that “sustainable development is not a destination, but a daily decision,” while the Minister of Planning, H.E. Kenyeh Barley, and Chief Minister, H.E. David Sengeh, both underscored the need to root national commitments in local action.

The workshop closed with a strong call: local action is central to global progress, with Sierra Leone positioning itself as a champion of both Agenda 2063 and the SDGs. 

UNICEF

Supporting Sierra Leone’s young innovators in the eUpshift climate challenge. 

With UNICEF’s support, Sierra Leone’s brightest young innovators took centre stage at the eUpshift Climate Challenge Final Pitch, presenting bold solutions to tackle climate change. Over 5,200 young people from 12 districts participated in the programme, building skills, refining ideas, and developing solutions through intensive training and mentorship.

At the final pitch, the top five teams showcased pioneering innovations in reforestation, waste management, sustainable farming, and clean water—demonstrating how youth-led initiatives can offer practical pathways for climate resilience and sustainable development.

In her remarks, UNICEF Deputy Representative Liv Elin Indreiten, emphasized: 
“Young people are not only affected by climate change, they are also innovators and problem-solvers. Whether you win or not, you have already proven that youth can drive meaningful change.”

The initiative was co-led by the Ministry of Communication, Technology, and Innovation, the Directorate of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI), and UNICEF, with delivery support from Restless Development, Afriqia HR Solutions, and Craft Human Resources. This partnership exemplifies how collaboration can empower youth to lead transformative climate action in Sierra Leone. 

IOM

Validation workshop: National Reintegration roadmap – Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone continues to strengthen its commitment to sustainable migration governance through the Validation Workshop of the National Reintegration Roadmap, developed under the Migrant Protection, Return and Reintegration Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa (MPRR-SSA), with support from the European Union and implemented by IOM.

The roadmap is a strategic framework designed to guide stakeholders in addressing the complex challenges of return and reintegration. It aligns with global and regional commitments, including the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) and the AU Migration Policy Framework, both of which emphasize safe, dignified return and sustainable reintegration.

Sierra Leone, a GCM Champion Country since 2023, has made significant strides in aligning national policies with international migration standards. The National Migration Policy 2022 provides the foundation for this roadmap, focusing on protecting migrants’ rights and combating irregular migration.

The workshop brings together 65 participants from MDAs, CSOs, NGOs, and technical working groups to validate and adopt the roadmap. It aims to foster coordinated action, enhance stakeholder collaboration, and mobilize resources to ensure the economic, social, and psychosocial reintegration of returnees.

This initiative marks a critical step toward a more humane, structured, and sustainable migration management system in Sierra Leone.

This milestone would not have been possible without the generous support of the European Union, whose funding and policy backing continue to strengthen migration governance and human rights protections in Sierra Leone.

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