Sierra Leone

The project was the product of two scoping missions to Kenema in August and October 2006 by the two UN agencies, which were coordinated by the Ministry of Development and Economic Planning (MoDEP), and the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development. The project document produced from these missions was presented to a Local Project Appraisal Committee chaired by the Development Secretary on 16 November 2006, for validation and compliance with national priorities and strategies. The document was approved following discussions with donors and government line ministries, on both strategic direction and planned interventions.

The Kenema District Economic Recovery Programme (KDERP) was officially launched in Kenema Town on 11 July 2007 and was attended by the Minister for Development and Economic Planning, Ibrahim Sesay, the Minister for Local Government and Community Development, Sidique Brima, the Kenema City Council Chairman, Patrick Samu, the City Mayor Eveans Brima Gbema and UN officials.

UNCDF Chief Technical Advisor, Ronald McGill underlined the implications of the success of the project for Sierra Leone; ‘Within the local development structure, the KDERP seeks to enhance the prospects for local economic development. The UN has created it as a pilot programme and based on its success, we will support its roll-out nationwide, so that the entire country can reap the benefits of economic recovery which we hope to see in Kenema District.’