By Kadijatu Bangura, Reporter, Daily Scope
On July 11, 2025, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sierra Leone officially launched the “Enabling Economic Independence for Especially Abled Persons in Sierra Leone” project. This initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Social Welfare and supported by the India-UN Development Partnership Fund (Commonwealth Window), aims to create inclusive economic opportunities for persons with disabilities.
The launch event attracted a vibrant gathering of individuals with disabilities, who are not only beneficiaries of the project but also crucial contributors to its development. Their active engagement underscored the project’s central mission: empowering individuals through economic inclusion rather than marginalization.
H.E. Mr. Baisnab Charan Pradhan, High Commissioner of India in Sierra Leone, emphasized the significance of the initiative, stating, “Let this not be just a ceremony, but the spark of a national conversation on accessibility, empowerment, and equality. Inclusion is not a gesture; it’s governance in action. It is justice delivered through access, equity, opportunity, and empowerment.”
Mrs. Melrose Karminty, Minister of Social Welfare, reiterated the government’s commitment to inclusivity, declaring, “This project reaffirms our national commitment to leaving no one behind by placing persons with disabilities at the heart of Sierra Leone’s development agenda.”
Fredrick Ampiah, Resident Representative of UNDP in Sierra Leone, called the launch a “call to action.” He noted, “Inclusion is not charity, but justice; it is not about sympathy, but about rights, and it is essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.”
The three-year project will focus on providing rehabilitation services, vocational training, and social inclusion, directly contributing to Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
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