By sulaiman.sesay@awokonewspapersl.com
Freetown, SIERRA LEONE – In a bold move to strengthen local governance and accelerate development in Sierra Leone, the European Union (EU) on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, officially launched a €3.5 million project aimed at empowering local authorities across the country.
The ceremony, held at the EU Delegation on Leicester Peak in the Western Rural District, brought together representatives from seven local councils—Kailahun, Western Rural, Bo, Falaba, Koidu New Sembehun, Kenema, and Freetown—each of which will implement projects tailored to their community’s development needs.
The EU initiative is designed to support Sierra Leone’s decentralization agenda by enhancing the institutional and operational capacities of local councils. It seeks to ensure that local governments are better equipped to plan, deliver, and sustain development outcomes in close collaboration with their communities.
EU Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Jacek Jankowski, underscored the initiative’s alignment with both the EU’s global strategy and the Sierra Leonean government’s “BIG 5” agenda. “Decentralization is not just a governance tool—it is a pathway to inclusive development,” he stated. “We firmly believe that empowering local authorities is key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Ambassador Jankowski also acknowledged the ongoing challenges faced by local councils, including limited capacity, inconsistent funding, and unclear institutional mandates. He stressed that the success of decentralization hinges on providing councils with stable resources and enhancing their ability to deliver quality services.
The €3.5 million funding will support projects focused on four key areas:
- Implementation of Local Development Plans – Improving service delivery and community development through strategic planning.
- Capacity Building for Local Authorities – Equipping council staff and elected officials with skills in leadership, financial management, revenue mobilization, transparency, and stakeholder engagement.
- Fiscal Decentralization and Local Tax Reform – Supporting systems for effective land registration, cadastre development, and urban property management to boost revenue generation.
- Promotion of Territorial Development Approaches – Encouraging coordinated, bottom-up planning processes where councils and local actors define and execute development priorities together.
“These efforts will not only improve citizens’ lives but also build more resilient, equitable, and sustainable communities,” Ambassador Jankowski affirmed.
The EU also reaffirmed its political commitment to supporting the full implementation of devolution as outlined in Sierra Leone’s legal framework. Ambassador Jankowski called for stronger collaboration between councils and decentralized ministry offices, and emphasized the need to eliminate administrative bottlenecks.
Local leaders welcomed the EU’s investment with optimism and gratitude.
Freetown Mayor Yvonne Akie-Sawyerr praised the EU’s consistent support, noting that the funds will significantly advance her Council’s Transform Freetown and Transforming Lives Agenda. “This partnership strengthens our ability to deliver on our vision for a better Freetown,” she said. “My commitment is to the people I serve.”
Bo District Council Chairperson Victor Hindowa echoed similar sentiments. “We are here to serve the vulnerable. I am fully committed to fulfilling the terms of this contract for the good of my people,” he declared.
Chairpersons from the Western Rural District Council, Falaba, Kailahun, Kenema, and Koidu also pledged to use the funds transparently and responsibly to improve living standards in their respective districts.
As Sierra Leone continues its journey toward deeper decentralization and inclusive development, the EU’s latest funding marks a vital boost—one that places local authorities at the heart of progress and gives communities a stronger voice in shaping their futures. SKS/8/5/2025
 on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, officially launched a €3.5 million project aimed at empowering local authorities across the country.){kind=link}