Sierra Leone’s Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, has called for the FY2027 national budget to place greater emphasis on economic growth, private-sector expansion and job creation, stressing that public spending must translate into measurable improvements in productivity and the lives of citizens.

Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh made the call on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, while delivering the keynote address at the formal commencement of the FY2027 Budget Process at the Miatta Civic Centre in Freetown.

The Vice President said the national budget should be viewed as more than a statement of Government revenue and expenditure, noting that it determines the priorities to be protected, investments to be accelerated and how public resources entrusted to the Government ultimately improve the lives of citizens.

“Today, I formally launch the FY2027 Budget Process under the theme ‘Building Resilience to Create Jobs,’” Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh said.

“Our focus is clear: use our resources wisely, create the conditions for businesses to grow and invest, and expand opportunities for our young people,” he added.

A central focus of the Vice President’s address was the Government’s target of creating 500,000 jobs for young people by 2030 under the Youth Employment Scheme Game Changer, with at least 30 per cent representation of women.

Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh stressed that the target could not be achieved through individual Ministries, Government programmes or expansion of the public payroll alone.

“Under the Youth Employment Scheme Game Changer, the Government has set an ambitious target of creating 500,000 jobs for young people by 2030, with at least 30 per cent representation of women. No single Ministry, programme or the Government payroll can deliver this target,” he said.

According to the Vice President, achieving the employment target will require an economy capable of generating opportunities across agriculture, manufacturing, mining, construction, energy, tourism, technology, the creative industries and services.

He said sustainable employment would increasingly depend on businesses being able to start, survive and expand, placing private-sector development at the centre of the Government’s employment strategy.

“The jobs required by a young and growing population, however, cannot predominantly come from the Government payroll,” Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh said.

He further explained that Sierra Leone must create an environment where farms can develop into viable businesses, small enterprises can expand, manufacturers can increase production and international companies can establish operations in the country.

The Vice President said the theme, “Building Resilience to Create Jobs,” was particularly relevant as the Government enters the second half of its second and final term and seeks to accelerate implementation of the Medium-Term National Development Plan and the Big Five Game Changers.

Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh also highlighted the importance of international development partnerships in advancing the country’s growth agenda. He recognized the contributions of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, European Union, African Development Bank and other bilateral and multilateral partners to Government programmes, infrastructure development, social-sector initiatives, institutional reforms, technical assistance and policy dialogue.

“I particularly acknowledge the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the European Union and the African Development Bank, alongside our many other bilateral and multilateral partners,” he said.

The Vice President noted that development cooperation is increasingly extending beyond traditional development assistance, with international partners supporting efforts to strengthen the private sector, improve the investment environment, expand access to finance and mobilize private capital.

The emphasis on private investment comes as the Government seeks to create the economic conditions necessary to support large-scale employment, particularly for the country’s growing youth population.

The European Union has maintained a longstanding development partnership with Sierra Leone, with cooperation covering areas including youth empowerment, trade, investment and the business environment. The partnership marked its 50th anniversary in 2026.

The World Bank’s engagement with Sierra Leone has similarly included priorities around inclusive economic growth, human capital development, resilience, jobs and private-sector investment.

Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh said those partnerships complement the Government’s domestic development priorities under the Big Five Game Changers, including youth employment, human capital development, agriculture, infrastructure and technology.

The FY2027 budget process is therefore expected to provide a framework for translating those priorities into public investments and programmes, with economic growth, private-sector participation and employment generation featuring prominently in the Government’s development agenda. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/64458