On Tuesday 15th April 2025 – at the Office of the Hon. Minister of Public Administration and Political Affairs, on 9th Floor, Youyi Building, Jens Kraus-Masse who is the Ambassador to Sierra Leone from the Federal Republic of Germany, had exclusive engagement with the Minister – Amara Kallon and Sara Hamouda – from the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Continental Secretariat.
The engagement session was on the transformative strides undertaken by MoPAPA and APRM’s Third High-level Forum on South-South and Triangular Cooperation, to be held in Sierra Leone for the very first time from the 7th to the 9th May 2025.
Whilst welcoming Ambassador Kraus-Masse, Minister Kallon stressed on MoPAPA’s commitments in transforming the public service of Sierra Leone, stating clearly the significance of public service in providing goods and services.
The Minister went further to enlighten that since MoPAPA’s inception in 2023, the institution has become very strategic, with a given mandate and a national strategy – directed on reforming the public service, and in collaboration with concerned institutions, including the APRM.
Deliberating further, the Minister admitted of MoPAPA’s tight collaboration with APRM on good governance and also on repositioning the public service with the required human, technical and financial support.
On the South-South Cooperation, Sara Hamouda from APRM Continental Secretariat explained that the Cooperation became an idea when APRM started intensifying its collaboration with United Nations Agencies, where it became visible that Africa does not have the institutional platform to discuss South-South Cooperation, coupled with the lack of statistical coverage on what Africa is receiving when it comes to Official Development Assistance (ODA) as aligned with foreign direct investment, and what could be done in leveraging human capital when it comes to South-South Cooperation – thus the need for the Forum.
Madam Hamouda narrated that the Forum was first held in Cairo (Egypt) in 2021, then Kampala (Uganda) in 2023, and now Sierra Leone where the Forum is expected to look into the role of the Global South in reshaping the new international order.
She went further to inform that there are plans in place for a knowledge fair exhibition, bent on showcasing Sierra Leone’s youth in innovation and entrepreneurship, with other internationally invited youth, showcasing same.
In his submission, Jens Kraus-Masse – Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, expressed gratitude for the upcoming event but however, he makes very clear that Germany is not part of the Global South but again, he admitted that with combined efforts of experiences from the South and financing from the North, targeting a third world country – he said could have tremendous and efficient effect.
Ambassador Kraus-Masse promised reaching out on GIZ to see how best support could be leveraged for such a high-level Triangular Cooperation, and he further mentioned that Germany has been an active supporter of the AU and APRM – all directed on improving good governance and a better political climate.
The Ambassador throws light on Germany’s diplomatic support to Sierra Leone in the area of health (epidemic prevention) and on sustainable economic development – focusing on peace and security, youth and women.
