EU Invests 1 Million Euro to Strengthen Local Governance and Service Delivery in Bo and Kenema

With a combined investment of 1 million Euros, the initiatives will support the Bo District Council and Kenema City Council to improve service delivery to citizens, strengthen local governance, and promote citizen's participation in decision making, to ensure accountability and transparency.

The European Union Ambassador, Jacek Jankowski joined the Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Tamba Lamina, the Njala University administration and students, government officials, local authorities, and the Chairman and staff of Bo District Council, Victor Korseh Hindowa, at a colourful launching event held at the Njala University Bo Campus.

With €500,000 EU grant, the project's flagship investment is the construction of 30 bedroom female student hostel, to address the long-standing accommodation challenges faced by young women pursuing tertiary education in the University.

The facility will be managed through a public-private partnership (PPP) model to ensure sustainability, effective maintenance and sustainable revenue generation for the council, marking an important step towards enhancing the capacity of the council to mobilise revenue, improve infrastructure, and respond more effectively to community needs.

Beyond infrastructure, the project focuses on strengthening council capacity and promoting social inclusion, including:

• Capacity building for council staff and councillors to improve governance and local revenue generation

• Infrastructure development aligned with the District Development Plan

• Youth and women's empowerment, including internships to boost youth employability and expanded livelihood opportunities for women

• Social advocacy initiatives addressing child marriage, teenage pregnancy, and female genital mutilation (FGM), while promoting the rights of persons with disabilities

Delivering his keynote address, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Tamba Lamina, acknowledged that the investment complements the Government's flagship "Big Five Game Changer" agenda and called for transparency and accountability in project implementation.

The launch of €500,000 EU grants for Kenema City Council was graced by the esteemed presence of the Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Kenyeh Barlay, the Mayor of Kenema, Thomas Baio and staff, and other government officials.

A central feature of the project is the construction of modern, safe, and accessible market stalls in the city centre. The new facilities are expected to stimulate local economic activity and improve the working conditions of traders - mostly women, who play a vital role in Kenema's economy.

The project also seeks to strengthen the foundations of local economic management through:

• Improved public financial management, including revenue mobilisation and local tax collection

• Enhanced urban and land management, supporting fiscal decentralisation and urban property registration

• Collaborative development planning, promoting a Territorial Approach to Local Development (TALD) through multi-sector partnerships

"The European Union remains a consistent and reliable partner in Sierra Leone's decentralisation agenda. Strong local governance is essential for accountability, effective service delivery, and sustainable development," Ambassador Jankowski concluded.