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 The Government of Sierra Leone and the United Nations yesterday reaffirmed their joint commitment to accelerating development results under the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2025–2030, following a high-level Joint Steering Committee (JSC) meeting co-chaired by the UN Resident Coordinator Seraphine Wakana and the Minister of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), Madam Kenyeh Barlay  Held at the Brookfields Hotel, the JSC brought together senior Government officials, UN agencies, and development partners to assess progress and chat ways to accelerate the implementation of the Cooperation Framework. Opening the session, the UN Resident Coordinator underscored the importance of the Steering Committee as a platform for strategic oversight and accountability, noting that Sierra Leone is now in the second year of implementation in a rapidly evolving global context. She emphasised the need for stronger coordination, measurable impact, and deeper integration across the three Cooperation Framework pillars, alongside strengthened partnerships with government and communities. Co-chairing the meeting, the Minister of Planning and Economic Development stressed that the gathering was “not routine, but a strategic checkpoint,” urging stakeholders to translate field-level observations into concrete decisions and accelerate implementation. Her remarks followed the presentation of the findings of a recent high-level joint field visit, which provided evidence of progress as well as areas requiring urgent attention.  Participants reviewed progress achieved across the Cooperation Framework, including strong alignment with national priorities, tangible improvements in livelihoods, and the effectiveness of integrated programming approaches. At the same time, discussions highlighted key systemic gaps, including coordination challenges, sustainability concerns, and limited inclusion of vulnerable groups.  Against this backdrop, the Committee agreed on a set of forward-looking recommendations to strengthen delivery and impact: (1) Strengthen coordination and information-sharing mechanisms among the UN, Government, and partners to improve transparency and reduce duplication.Second, ensure systematic involvement of line ministries in project governance structures to reinforce national ownership and accountability.Third, enhance engagement with the private sector through a structured collaboration strategy, recognising its critical role in sustainable development. Fourth, scale up disability inclusion across all programmes, with clear indicators to track progress and ensure no one is left behind. Fifth, strengthen advocacy around Peacebuilding Fund eligibility, including broader sharing of documentation with partners, and lastly, address emerging youth risks, including substance abuse, by integrating them into development and peacebuilding programming. In their closing remarks, both Co-Chairs commended the progress achieved to date, particularly the successful implementation of previous Steering Committee recommendations. They called on all stakeholders to maintain momentum by translating the new decisions into clear, time-bound actions, while reinforcing mutual accountability.The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to deepen collaboration under the “Delivering as One” approach and sustain focus on results that improve lives across Sierra Leone ahead of the next Steering Committee session scheduled for November 2026.