Sierra Leone has teamed up with global partners at the Global Development Partnership Week (GDPW) 2025, taking place in Seoul, South Korea, from September 21 to October 3, 2025.

This two-week summit, organized by the Government of Korea, gathered policymakers, international organizations, development experts, and leaders from civil society to enhance global collaboration and push forward sustainable development.

One of the standout events was the 8th Busan Forum, which occurred on September 30 and October 1 at the Lotte Hotel Seoul, focusing on financing for development (FfD) and global cooperation.

Representing Sierra Leone, Mrs.  Abie Elizabeth Kamara, the Director of the Development Assistance Coordination Office in the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, spoke on “Leveraging the DEPAC Ecosystem for Effective Development Cooperation in Sierra Leone.”

She highlighted how Sierra Leone’s Development Partnership Committee (DEPAC) has transformed from a traditional aid coordination forum into a dynamic multi-stakeholder ecosystem, uniting government, bilateral and multilateral partners, civil society, and the private sector.

“DEPAC ensures that all development efforts are harmonized, effective, and aligned with Sierra Leone’s national priorities as outlined in the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP),” Mrs.  Kamara explained.

She pointed out that DEPAC has been vital in:

Coordinating national consultations for the MTNDP 2024–2030.

Mobilizing support during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ebola outbreak, which helped prevent overlapping efforts.

Tackling resource limitations while seeking out innovative financing solutions in the face of dwindling traditional donor support.

According to Ms. Kamara, Sierra Leone’s experience shows that mechanisms like DEPAC are more than just platforms for sharing information; they are strategic ecosystems that foster ownership, inclusivity, results, and accountability in development cooperation.

The forum saw broad participation from the OECD Development Assistance Committee, among others.

Michaella Bonnie 

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