By Kelfala Kargbo
Freetown, November 6th, 2026 – UNICEF has engaged the Parliamentary Budget Office, with discussions focused on charting ways to improve the allocation for child-related programmes in the 2027 budget, expected to be tabled before Parliament in due course.
The engagement, convened on Wednesday 4th November at the Kontri Lodge Hotel in Freetown, brought together Members of Parliament and officials from the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, aimed at strengthening Parliamentary oversight, protecting budget allocations for children and ensuring that approved funds are released and used to deliver essential services in education, health, nutrition, social protection and child protection.
UNICEF Country Representative Mariko Kagoshima said children make up about 41 per cent of Sierra Leone’s population, with two in three deprived of at least one basic need.
“Funding for child protection is about US$0.66 per child annually, and that debt servicing takes nearly 29 per cent of government expenditure, more than twice the education budget and six times the health budget,” Kagoshima said.
She urged Parliament to prioritize education, healthcare, nutrition, sanitation, social protection and child protection in the 2027 budget, and to ensure the timely release of funds and judicious utilisation.
Representing the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Daniel Gbao called for more funding to tackle child marriage, teenage pregnancy, child labour, violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation, noting that funding for child’s protection is still below 1%, a figure, he adds, does not guarantee child protection efforts.
“Child protection funding remains below one per cent of the budget and should rise above three per cent,” he urged.
Chairman of the Finance Committee, Hon. Keikura Christopher Vandy, assured UNICEF that Parliament remains committed to its oversight role. He, however, said limited fiscal space, revenue shortfalls and delays in external assistance continue to hamper the timely release of funds.
“We approve the funds but we do not control the purse of the country,” Vandy said.
UNICEF reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Parliament with evidence-based research and technical assistance, while parliament called on UNICEF for more collaboration.
