POLICY CLUSTERS
Policies and programs to implement the National Development Plan have been organized into eight broad policy clusters. These clusters also contain the eight leading strategic priorities of government.
- Cluster One: Human capital development;
- Cluster Two: Diversifying the economy and promoting growth; Cluster
- Cluster Three: Infrastructure and economic competitiveness;
- Cluster Four: Governance and accountability for results;
- Cluster Five: Empowering women, children, and persons with disability,
- Cluster Six: Youth employment, sports, and migration,
- Cluster Seven: Addressing vulnerabilities and building resilience,
- Cluster Eight: Plan implementation.
All these clusters have been narrow down to four clusters in NaMED’s project implementations.
CLUSTER ONE: HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT
Human Capital consists of the knowledge, skills, and health that people invest in and accumulate throughout their lives, enabling them to realize their full potential as productive members of society. Investing in people through nutrition, health care, quality education, jobs, and skills helps develop human Capital and this is key to ending extreme poverty and creating more inclusive societies.
CLUSTER TWO- DIVERSIFYING THE ECONOMY AND PROMOTING GROWTH
Diversifying the Economy and Promoting Growth with a vision of Sierra Leone’s aspiration of becoming an inclusive green and middle-income country with a goal of a diversified, resilient, and green economy. The sector hosts the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs (MTCA), Ministry of Trade and Industry (SMEDA, Standard Bureau, SLEIPA), Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Ministry of Mines and Marine Resources (Petroleum Directorate), and Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources.
CLUSTER THREE: INFRASTRUCTURE AND ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS
The development of new infrastructure and the rehabilitation of existing infrastructure is very important for the stimulation of economic growth in particular and the development of Sierra Leone in general. The Government of Sierra Leone’s objective of developing quality infrastructure for economic competitiveness and socio-economic development is compatible with the long-term agenda of becoming a middle-income country. This agenda incorporates the provision of a stable and affordable energy supply, transportation, water infrastructural systems, waste management, and ICT, while also promoting private sector growth and manufacturing.
This includes the provision of stable and affordable:
- Energy supply
- Transportation
- Water Infrastructural Systems
- Waste Management
- ICT
CLUSTER FOUR: GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR RESULT
Governance and accountability for result is quality management of development policies that have a positive influence on economic performance and play a crucial role in the overall socio-economic and political development of the country. It also consists of the interaction of interest groups to develop and implement policies that adhere to rules and laws is an important part of attaining good governance and accountability. The democratic developmental state approach underpinned by inclusive politics, inclusive development, and inclusive economic growth is not an end in itself. Rather, the approach is adopted to ensure that the benefit of economic growth is redistributed to all Sierra Leoneans through the provision of fordable housing, public health services, and free education. However, it is recognized that good governance, like quality and inclusive education, is an indispensable prerequisite for achieving the development goals that are outlined in the first five years of the 20-year National Development Plan.
To achieve this, a conscious effort must be made to strengthen transparency and accountability; encourage and support national cohesion; intensify and support the fight against corruption and illicit financial flows; strengthen the audit service; enhance the functioning of public financial management structures; strengthen justice sector institutions; build trust in state institutions; intensify and optimize public service delivery; strengthen decentralization, local governance, and rural development; and provide capacity, welfare, and logistical support to security institutions and personnel.
Influence on economic performance plays a crucial role in the overall socioeconomic and political development of the country. This focus on the following:
- Political development for national cohesion
- Fighting corruption and illicit financial flows
- Strengthening public financial management
- Strengthening audit services