By Amin Kef (Ranger)
The Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, has underscored that Africa’s transformation and progress toward achieving Agenda 2063 will depend fundamentally on the effective management and development of its greatest asset; its people. Delivering the keynote address at the opening of the 10th Annual Conference of the African Public Sector Human Resource Management Network, held on Tuesday, 4th November 2025, at the Bintumani Conference Center in Freetown, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh described human resource management as the driving force of modern governance and sustainable development across the African continent.
Addressing a distinguished audience that included Ministers, delegates, and experts from across Africa, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh extended a warm welcome to participants on behalf of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Julius Maada Bio, the Government, and the people of Sierra Leone. He said the conference was a defining moment for the continent’s public service, as it provided a platform to reflect on how human resource management and development could catalyze Africa’s progress toward the aspirations of Agenda 2063. He also recalled his time working with the United Nations in Entebbe, Uganda, where he met many Ugandans who expressed interest in visiting Sierra Leone. He urged delegates from Uganda to return home and tell their compatriots that they have now seen Sierra Leone for themselves.
In his statement, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh noted that the theme of this year’s conference: “Human Resource Management and Development in Public Service: A Catalyst for Africa’s Agenda 2063”,was both timely and crucial, as it resonates with the complex social, economic and institutional transformations shaping Africa’s future. He emphasized that the strength and productivity of any modern administration depend on the quality, professionalism and motivation of its workforce. “Investing in people, in their skills, motivation and leadership, is therefore central to achieving good governance and sustainable development,” he said.
Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh maintained that the Africa envisioned by Agenda 2063 must be one driven by capable states and resilient institutions, and that such institutions cannot exist without visionary, competent and professional public servants. He stated that the aspirations of Agenda 2063, particularly aspirations one, two, three, six and seven clearly highlight the connection between human resource management, governance and institutional excellence. He added that effective human resource systems are built on transparency, fairness and accountability, which together form the backbone of stability and legitimacy in public institutions. “Institutions are not mere structures,” he noted, “they are living systems built on values, practices and people.”
Highlighting Sierra Leone’s own ongoing reform efforts, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh explained that the country’s governance model is anchored on three pillars; people, professionalism and performance. He said the implementation of the Public Sector Reform Master Plan (2024–2030) is transforming how the Government recruits, manages and rewards its workforce. He cited the establishment of the Wages and Compensation Commission, which promotes fairness and equity in the public pay structure and the introduction of a biometric payroll system under the Human Resource Management Office (HRMO) to eliminate redundancies and strengthen accountability.
The Vice President further referenced the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act of 2023, which guarantees women at least 30 percent representation in elective and appointive positions, describing it as a historic milestone in Sierra Leone’s effort to ensure gender balance and inclusivity in governance. These reforms, he said, reflect the Government’s commitment to professionalizing and modernizing public service delivery in line with global best practices.
Drawing from his experience as a researcher, development expert and now as a senior public servant, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh reflected on the evolution of African public administration. He reminded delegates that in the 1980s and early 1990s, many African states suffered from institutional collapse, losing their capacity to deliver basic services; a condition scholars once termed “statelessness.” However, he said, the re-democratization of Africa in the 1990s marked the beginning of rebuilding strong, capable and responsive states. Agenda 2063, he emphasized, represents the continent’s collective determination to restore state capacity, strengthen democratic institutions and promote accountable governance.
“Good governance remains the foundation of effective public service,” Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh asserted, adding that without transparency, accountability and merit-based recruitment, no reform can succeed. He therefore called for the depoliticization of public institutions, emphasizing that competence and performance, not political loyalty, should determine advancement. He also stressed that continuous learning and professional development are essential, especially in the era of artificial intelligence and digital transformation. “Artificial intelligence, digital governance and public-private partnerships are redefining administrative processes,” he said. “We must modernize, innovate and draw on private sector expertise to enhance the performance of our public institutions.”
Turning to the question of financing public sector reforms, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh cautioned that Africa’s reform agenda can no longer depend on international aid, given the current global financial realities and the increasing debt burdens facing many nations. He disclosed that Sierra Leone currently spends 42 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on debt servicing; a figure that mirrors the experience of many African countries. He therefore urged Governments to look inward, mobilize domestic resources and strengthen revenue-generating institutions as part of efforts to build self-sustaining public sectors. “A capable public sector is central to that mission,” he stressed.
Commending the African Public Sector Human Resource Management Network for convening the conference, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh praised the organization for providing a platform for policymakers, practitioners and experts to share ideas and best practices. He expressed optimism that Africa is steadily building strong, professional and people-centered public institutions capable of delivering on the continent’s development promise.
Concluding his address, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh expressed confidence that with sustained collaboration, innovation and commitment, Africa’s public service will become the true engine of progress, prosperity and transformation envisioned in Agenda 2063. With those words, he formally declared open the 10th Annual Conference of the African Public Sector Human Resource Management Network, describing it as a platform that embodies Africa’s collective resolve to strengthen governance through its most important resource; its people.
