Sierra Leone

United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Sierra Leone

The Country Team in Sierra Leone, led by the UN Resident Coordinator, is comprised of over eight UN agencies, funds and programmes, these are UNDP, UNFPA, UNAIDS, UNICEF, WFP, WHO, FAO, UNHCR and UNIOSIL. In addition to these, membership is also held by IOM, OHCHR, The Field Security Coordination Officer and the World Bank.

Weekly UNCT/ Security Management Team meetings which include regular updates on political issues which are provided by the Political Affairs Unit at UNIOSIL and security updates provided by the FSCO. At these meetings key issues are discussed and decisions made concerning the UN system’s contribution to the recovery, reconciliation and transition process which aims to move the country towards sustainable peace and development in Sierra Leone.

UNDP’s role within the UN Country Team is that of coordination. UNDP provides coordination support to each of the UN agencies, and provides financial assistance to programmes and projects of sister agencies and other development partners. The head of UNDP, the Resident Representative, also acts as the Resident Coordinator of the UNCT. In addition he doubles as the Executive Representative Secretary General (ERSG) in Sierra Leone.

What Does the UN Country Team Do?

Throughout the transition from peace-keeping to peace-building and from relief to recovery and development, the principal objective of the UNCT has been to assist the Government, together with its partners, to address, in a coherent manner, both the causes and consequences of the ten-year war in Sierra Leone. It is doing so in close collaboration with UNIOSIL using the comparative advantages and resources of the whole UN community in Sierra Leone to confront and tackle the many needs and demands of a country emerging from a devastating conflict.

Working As One

The UN family in Sierra Leone, through the UN Country Team, continues to make efforts to deliver in a more coordinated way at the country level.  The objective of working as ‘One UN’ is to ensure faster and more effective development operations and accelerate progress to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by establishing a consolidated UN presence, while building on the strengths and comparative advantages of the different members of the UN family.

When UN agencies come together and work as one entity, a more efficient UN is created with a focus on creating a better future for Sierra Leoneans. Working as ‘One UN’, agencies can use their expertise and know-how to mobilize mechanisms that will strengthen Sierra Leone’s capacity to achieve the MDGs.

Below details gives you a brief summary of UN projects in Sierra Leone where two or more agencies are working together. Click on the links to read more detailed information on the projects.

UNDP and UNCDF team up to stimulate economic recovery in Kenema
The Kenema District Economic Recovery Programme, is supported by UNDP and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). The five-year community development programme is designed to foster local economic development in Kenema District, and to develop the capacity of both the District and City Councils to provide services and infrastructure to local communities. The second project involved in the workshop is a three-year JICA pilot programme aimed at improving community development in three Kambia chiefdoms, through child and youth development projects.

UNDP and UNIDO launch joint programme to stimulate private sector development
Private sector representation in Sierra Leone is has been seen as fragmented and uncoordinated. In 2007 UNIDO and UNDP collaborated to establish the UNDP/UNIDO Joint Private Sector Development Programme. The joint UNIDO/UNDP programme seeks to initiate dialogue on private sector development, and provide a platform to facilitate private sector representative groups to play a proactive role in policy development. The programme will also address the needs of existing business membership organizations such as the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture (SLCCIA), the Sierra Leone Indigenous Business Association (SLIBA), Petty Traders Organizations and representatives of women entrepreneurs to function as policy partners. It will voice the needs of their members and advise public policy makers on the impact of policies and programmes on the private sector.

Below is a list of the key personal belonging to the Sierra Leone Country Team.

Person	Title	Agency
Mr. J. Victor Da Silva Angelo (ERSG)	Resident Coordinator	UNDP
Mr. Andrew Choga	Representative	IOM
Mr. Abdel-Nabi Fardous	Representative	FAO
Mr. Bernard Mokam	Country Director	UNDP
Mr. Barnabas Yisa	Representative	UNFPA
Mr. Elike Segbor	Representative	UNHCR
Mr. Geert Cappelaere	Representative	UNICEF
Mr. Felix Gomez	Representative	WFP
Dr. Felicitas Zawaira	Representative	WHO
Mr. Engilbert Gudmundsson	Country Manager	World Bank
Mr. Benedict Sannoh	Chief	OHCHR
Ms. Orla Fagan	Programme Manager	UNIFEM
Mr. Joseph Koroma	Representative	UNIDO
Ms. Margaret Kilo	Representative	ADB
Mr. Alvin Hilaire	Resident Representative	IMF
Ms. Viccinda Gordon	Coordination Support	UNIOSIL