By Saidu Jalloh
Daily Scope Newspaper
The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development has validated new National Public Investment Management Guidelines aimed at bringing discipline to public spending and reducing waste across all government institutions.
The framework was finalized Wednesday with technical support from the World Bank. It builds on the 2024 Public Investment Policy and the 2022 Public Investment Manual by translating broad policy objectives into clear, step-by-step operational instructions for public officials.
Speaking at the validation workshop, Minister of Planning and Economic Development Kenyeh Barlay said the guidelines will apply to all public investment projects and programs in Sierra Leone, regardless of whether they are funded through the national budget, loans, grants, public-private partnerships, local councils, or state-owned enterprises. She described the document as the country’s primary reference for guiding public investments.
Barlay directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies to conduct thorough reviews of ongoing projects, reprioritize their portfolios, invest in continuous staff training, and ensure that future projects are climate-resilient and gender-responsive.
Development Secretary Ambrose James said the new framework signals a shift in government planning and procurement. He stated that MoPED will now strictly screen every MDA request against the new criteria. Existing projects will be audited, while new proposals will undergo exhaustive appraisal and require joint approval from MoPED and the Ministry of Finance. “It is no more business as usual,” he told participants.
Idara Mahdi, Deputy Director of Budget at the Ministry of Finance, said the guidelines are timely given current pressure on the national budget. She noted that the framework is expected to mitigate financial risks, enhance service delivery, and align investments with government priorities to guarantee maximum value for money.
The validated guidelines will now be rolled out for implementation across all MDAs.
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