By Foday Moriba Conteh
On Wednesday 15th February, 2021, the new Resident Representative (RR) for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Sierra Leone, Dr. Pa Lamin Beyai, paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Francis Kai-Kai, at the Minister’s Office in Freetown.
The Minister expressed his pleasure in welcoming the new RR, reaffirming government’s commitment to work together with the UNDP Country Office. He further thanked the UNDP for their support to the development and roll-out of the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) 2019-2023, and for their support to Sierra Leone’s work in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030.
Dr. Kai-Kai urged the UNDP to continue to support President Bio’s development priority areas as enshrined in the MTNDP (2019-2023). The Minister said that he was looking forward to working with the RR and Team, discussing various areas of mutual interest aimed at strengthening and improving cooperation between UNDP and the Ministry, in order to deliver on their shared objectives.
In his response, Dr. Beyai stated his delight to be welcomed at the Ministry, where he referred to as the “home of the UNDP”, noting that during his time, he would further reinforce the relation with the Ministry, since the Ministry has been at the centre of the UNDP’s work.
Dr. Beyai pledged the UNDP’s continued support to government in implementing the MTNDP (2019-2023). He also promised to work with the government towards achieving the desired difference in the development of the country.
Before his appointment to Sierra Leone in November last year, Dr. Beyei, a Gambia National, served as Resident Representative, UNDP Liberia. He was also UNDP Country Director in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He has more than 27 years of technical experience in development management and leadership, and holds a Ph.D in Economics with a focus on Health Economics, including a Bachelor of Science (Honors) in Economics from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone.
