VP Jalloh Pushes for Institutional Collaboration
Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, has called on Government institutions to strengthen collaboration and move beyond isolated approaches to policymaking, stressing that effective coordination is critical to delivering tangible improvements in the lives of Sierra Leoneans.
The Vice President made the call on Thursday, August 20, 2026, while opening the National Symposium on Policy Coherence, Coordination and State Effectiveness in Freetown, where policymakers, senior Government officials and public servants gathered to discuss ways of improving the country’s governance systems.
Dr. Juldeh Jalloh said Sierra Leone’s development challenge is not the absence of policies, but the need to ensure that existing policies are effectively coordinated, implemented and translated into measurable outcomes for citizens.
He explained that the Government is currently navigating what he described as the “politics of painful choices” due to limited resources, global economic pressures and competing national demands.
According to him, these realities require Government to make difficult decisions while ensuring that available resources are directed towards programmes that deliver the greatest impact.
The Vice President highlighted key national priorities such as food security, youth employment and healthcare as areas that require strong cooperation among multiple Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
He noted that challenges in one sector often affect progress in another, citing unreliable electricity supply as an example of how weaknesses in the energy sector can disrupt healthcare delivery through its impact on hospitals and medical equipment.
Dr. Juldeh Jalloh urged public institutions to adopt a more coordinated approach by aligning their plans, sharing information and using evidence to guide policy decisions.
He emphasized that Government success should not be measured by the number of policies developed or programmes launched, but by the real improvements citizens experience in their daily lives.
The Vice President said every Government policy must have clear institutional responsibilities, realistic financing arrangements, practical implementation strategies, measurable targets and effective monitoring mechanisms.
He warned that duplication of programmes, fragmented responsibilities and inefficient use of public resources could undermine national development efforts, particularly at a time when resources remain limited.
Dr. Juldeh Jalloh linked improved policy coordination to President Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s public-sector reform agenda, which aims to create a more professional, efficient and results-driven public service.
He encouraged participants at the symposium to develop practical solutions that would help strengthen collaboration across Government and ensure that national priorities are converted into meaningful outcomes for the people.
The National Symposium on Policy Coherence, Coordination and State Effectiveness brought together Government officials, policymakers and stakeholders to examine strategies for improving institutional coordination and strengthening the effectiveness of the State.