By Joseph Momoh, Reporter D.S.
Freetown, Sierra Leone – In a bold initiative aimed at financial empowerment and public sector reform, more than 22,000 civil servants across Sierra Leone have come together to establish the Republic of Sierra Leone Civil Service Cooperative Credit Union (CivSCCU). This transformative effort is led by the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) and the Ministry of Public Administration and Political Affairs (MoPAPA).
Mr. David Augustine Ked Abu, Senior Planning Officer and Head of the CivSCCU Secretariat, shared insights during an exclusive interview at his office in Tower Hill, Freetown. He noted that a stakeholder engagement held on May 13, 2025, marked a pivotal step toward launching the first Civil Service Cooperative Credit Union in the country. This engagement represents a strategic move to mobilize civil servants and institutional stakeholders in line with the Government’s broader goal of enhancing financial inclusion and social protection as outlined in the Medium-Term National Development Plan (2024–2030).
The CivSCCU aims to leverage its extensive membership to mobilize resources, promote a savings culture, enhance access to finance, and improve financial literacy among public sector workers. The initiative is supported technically and institutionally by the National Cooperative Credit Union Association (NaCCUA), the Irish League of Credit Union Foundation (ILCUF) Limited, SEND Sierra Leone, DSIK, and other key development partners.
To date, the CivSCCU Secretariat has engaged with over 28 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback. If current progress continues, member savings are expected to commence by August 2025. Following a year of resource mobilization, which may include strategic investments in Treasury Bearer Bonds, the institution is poised to initiate full operations.
The CivSCCU Board will include 13 members: six permanent members from key government offices, including the Human Resource Management Office and the Ministry of Finance, along with seven elected representatives from MDAs to be chosen during the Annual Delegates Meeting (ADM).
The recent stakeholder engagement convened ministers, civil servants, and development partners to discuss the strategic role of CivSCCU in advancing financial empowerment and supporting public sector reform. Key outcomes included a consensus to make membership mandatory for all permanent and pensionable civil servants, proposed revisions to the draft bylaws, and recommendations on membership structure, financial product offerings, and governance mechanisms.
The Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministers of Public Administration and Planning and Economic Development, reaffirmed its commitment to finalizing the Union’s registration and piloting its operations, positioning CivSCCU as a transformative vehicle for sustainable civil service reform.
Mr. Abu emphasized that the initiative not only serves as a savings mechanism but also revitalizes the Civil Service, enhancing professionalism and delivering improved results. He highlighted the commitment of the Human Resource Management Office (HRMO) to facilitate seamless payroll deduction systems and the importance of financial literacy and capacity building.
“The initiative serves both as a financial solution and a motivational tool to improve workforce morale, commitment, and productivity,” Mr. Abu stated. He underscored that the CivSCCU will be a legacy project under the President’s reform priorities, with cabinet-level policy support focused on robust accountability mechanisms.
The Irish Embassy in Sierra Leone, alongside SEND Sierra Leone, DSIK, and other donors, has pledged financial and technical support for the initiative while emphasizing the importance of transparency, member ownership, and democratic governance. The Department for Cooperatives at the Ministry of Trade and Industry has committed to fast-tracking the registration process and implementing quarterly compliance audits to ensure alignment with national regulations and global best practices.
Mr. Abu noted that the Government is dedicated to maintaining a transparent regulatory framework that encourages private-sector participation while safeguarding members’ funds. The government plans to mobilize domestic and development-partner resources to capitalize on mortgage and consumer credit, ensuring quarterly compliance audits and governance training.
Stakeholder engagements have demonstrated strong institutional alignment and commitment to empowering Sierra Leone’s civil servants through sustainable financial solutions. Agreement on key issues, including mandatory membership and transparent governance structures, has been reached. With clear timelines for registration, piloting, and capacity building, the Government, through MoPED and MoPAPA, is committed to advancing this initiative in collaboration with relevant MDAs and development partners.
The CivSCCU is positioned not only as a financial institution but also as a transformational mechanism that will enhance service delivery, promote economic resilience among civil servants, and contribute meaningfully to the country’s long-term development trajectory.
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