Stakeholders Praise NATCOM Sierra Leone for Topping Revenue Generation

October 10, 2019

By Fatmata Jengbe

Receiving commendations from relevant stakeholders, the National Telecommunication Commission (NATCOM) has been rated high so far for topping the revenue generation chart for Government from January to September, 2019.

This was disclosed at the ongoing budget hearing for Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for the financial year 2020 held at Miatta Conference Hall, Youyi Building Freetown. NATCOM is said to have generated one hundred and twenty-eight billion, nine hundred and thirty-three million, eight hundred and thirteen thousand, one hundred and forty-nine Leones (Le128,933,813,149).

Making the presentation before the committee, NATCOM’s Director General, Maxwell Hinga Massaquoi said the revenue was generated from the under-mentioned revenue streams including FM Licenses, GSM Licenses, international gateway, VSAT, TV Licenses, VHF Radio, ISP, 4G and 3G Licenses, royalties, fines, among others. He also registered the Commission’s commitment to increase revenue generation for the State with a projection of two hundred and ninety-seven billion, two hundred and ten million, three hundred and sixty-seven thousand and sixty-two Leones (Le297,210,367,067) in 2020 financial year.

Analyzing the Commission’s budget proposal for the financial year 2020 which received endorsement by the State and Non-State actors, the Director General made a case persuasively to the panel for timely allocation of funds in order to ensure effective and efficient monitoring and regulation of the telecommunications sector for greater revenue generation for the State.

He said the mission of NATCOM is to foster a progressive and an enabling environment for the development of the telecommunications sector in Sierra Leone with a vision to make it the leading telecommunications authority in sub-Sahara Africa.

According to him, one of the key challenges facing the Commission is access to finance to carry out its day to day operations and inadequate office space at the Commission’s headquarters.

Additionally, he said, some service providers fail to pay the annual regulatory fees coupled with the failure of some operators to comply with regulations as well as the need for advanced tolls to detect and prevent simbox and other ICT fraud and manage the spectrum and other resources effectively.

NPPA Sierra Leone Discloses Success story at Budget Hearing

October 10, 2019

By Brima Sannoh
Chief Executive Officer of the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA) Ibrahim Brima Swaray, on Monday 7^th October 2019 revealed that within one year the institution was able to save over $70 million for the Government through the blockage of leakages.

The CEO made that revelation while presenting his budget proposal for the Financial Year 2020 and 2022 before officials of the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economic Development and Planning, CSOs, CBOs, Non State Actor and the Media at the Miatta Conference. Centre

Swaray maintained that the mandate is to regulate, monitor and harmonize public procurement processes in the public service in order to promote economic development by ensuring value for money in the public expenditure through a decentralized system. He highlighted some strategic objectives which are to review the legal framework for procurement to ensure that there is harmony in all procurement related documents, strengthening procurement structures to support government programmes, to improve public procurement planning in procuring entities.

He disclosed his key deliverables for 2019 which is to provide statistical data on procurement activities in 2018 and other relevant information showing compliance level, quarterly development of price norm to aid procurement processes and monitoring, a communiqué on procurement practices issued after 2days of procurement forums, noting that 10 NPPA Staff were trained in various procurement and supply chain modules.

He reiterated that they have completed the Annual Procurement Assessment for 145 procuring entities for 2018 and also said they have developed quarterly price norms to aid the procurement process, conducted procurement clinic for MDAs and LCs on procurement planning and reporting. He also highlighted that the institution also provided technical assistance to Procurement Officers in MDAs and LCs on public procurement management.

He pointed out that the institution completed performance management plans and report 2018/2019 and also monitored Local Councils on procurement management, minimized Government wastage by over $ 70m and the establishment of a regional office in the South to improve on procurement supervision.

He concluded by stating that in 2020 they will establish an e-procurement system.

Stats Sierra Leone Receives a Pat on the Back from Finance Ministry

October 10, 2019

By David Johnson

During the ongoing 2020 Budget Hearing at the Miatta Conference Centre the Ministry of Finance, through its officials disclosed and commended Stats SL for being the only MDA to have fully disclosed funds received from its development partners.

Cyrus Luseni from the Ministry of Finance who was head of the session in which Stats SL succinctly presented its Policies and Programmes for 2020 financial year, said that the Ministry can only commend the leadership of Stats SL headed by the Statistician General Prof. Osman Sankoh (Mallam O) and its Council under the leadership of Mr. Moses Williams for the conspicuous show of transparency.

Making the presentation on behalf of Stats SL, the new Deputy Statistician General, Andrew Johnny, intimated all present that Stats SL’s leadership these days is very particular about transparency and accountability, hence the reason why a Directorate of Internal Audit and Compliance was created during the recent restructuring that took place, in addition to 3 other new Directorates namely Communications and Public Relations, Operations and National Statistical System with professional and qualified staff to deliver Credible Data for National Development.

In cataloguing the successes that Stats SL was able to record in 2018, Andrew Johnny disclosed that a poverty profile of Sierra Leone through the Sierra Leone Integrated Household Survey (SLIHS) was conducted in 2018 and is to be launched this October and that Extensive use of ICT-based data collection, processing and dissemination to ensure reliability and timely delivery of statistical products is now in place. He furthered that there is now an improved corporate and infrastructural image of Stats SL both at the Headquarters and in the districts and disclosed that the institution has secured a World Bank grant for the refurbishment of its headquarters to an ultra-modern facility to meet modern statistical needs

He continued that amidst the successes, there are still challenges amongst which are late and inadequate disbursement of funds to carry out routine statistical activities and administrative operations, poor infrastructure via office buildings at HQ and district offices and MDAs, NGOs and others not involving Stats SL in national surveys which most times leads to data credibility conflicts and figures.He pleaded that a strong legislation be put in place so that all official data produced within Sierra Leone can only be used after accreditation from Stats SL.

Andrew Johnny divulged that Stats SL has 5 key deliverables for 2020 which include, the Conduct of credible Mid-Term Census, Strengthening of National Statistical System including the Development and launching of NSDS III, the rebasing of the Consumer Price Index, the Revision of the Census and Statistics Act of 2002 and the conduct of at least two national surveys namely the labour force and agricultural surveys. In conclusion, he said, that Stats SL will need at least 87 Billion from the Ministry of Finance to be able to embark on all its activities for the year 2020

In his response, the Principal Deputy Financial Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, Matthew Dingie, said that his Ministry is very pleased with Stat SL’s presentation and happy with its work whilst commending the vibrant team that has been put together recently. He said that the Ministry hopes to get credible indicators from Stats SL in order to support medium term micro economic projects. The session closed with a question and answer session from State and Non-State actors most of whom showered praises on Stats SL’s Management for its accountability and tangible strides taken so far.

Sierra Leone Vice President Appeals to ECOWAS Bank

October 10, 2019

By Amin Kef Sesay

Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone few days ago urged the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development to prioritize their investments in shared regional infrastructure so as to accelerate economic development in West Africa.

Delivering his keynote address at the 17th Session of the Board of Governors of the 15 Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Freetown, the Vice President stated that by investing in construction of roads, shipping, transportation, and electricity, smaller economies would be able to grow and compete.

He said that because of poor road network, it is more expensive to travel by road from Freetown to Conakry than to fly from Freetown to Casablanca, as he welcomed the ECOWAS bankers to Sierra Leone, expressing his appreciation for their financial and technical support in the region – including improving the lives of people in Sierra Leone.

He spoke about Government’s 2019-2023 Mid-Term National Development Plan which he said focuses on human resource development as the engine for promoting economic growth and social advancement in Sierra Leone.

Jalloh said that his New Direction Government is working to strengthen governance and accountability, structural transformation, improve on energy and road infrastructure, affordable healthcare and economic diversification to provide opportunities for and empower women and the youths.

“Developing national industries and integration into national and international markets are key components of the plan for economic transformation that will reduce the country’s exposure to external economic shocks,” he said.

The private sector, he said, has a major role to play in transforming the economy and help the Government achieve its aims and is therefore being reformed, including Government’s plans to form a national investment board.

The Vice President spoke about Sierra Leone’s investment potential in various economic sectors, including agriculture, fisheries, tourism, the service sector and renewable energy.

But realization of this potential, he said, is being hampered by poor road networks as he called on the ECOWAS Bank to prioritize its investment in infrastructure development to help Sierra Leone achieve its goals.

In another development, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Finance, Jacob Jusu Saffa was appointed Chairman of the Board of ECOWAS Bank, replacing Amadou Hott of Senegal.

His appointment was announced at the 17th Annual General Meeting of the Board of Governors of the ECOWAS Bank meeting in Freetown.

ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) is a financial institution established by fifteen member States of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 1999, after the transformation of the Fund for Cooperation, Compensation and Development of the Economic Community. It was established to promote wealth creation and poverty reduction in the region.

Speaking after his appointment, Saffa said that his appointment will be beneficial to Sierra Leone as it will ensure that the country’s development projects will be fast tracked.

Sanitizing The Mineral Resource Sector in Sierra Leone: Key To Financing Development

October 10, 2019

COMMENTARY

By Amin Kef Sesay

Since the civil war ended in Sierra Leone in January 2002, various Governments have sought to start operations on the country’s first industrial-scale gold mine and increase investment in bauxite and iron ore.

But disputes over multiple licences granted by various authorities during the conflict and after have hampered the process. “We … need to sanitize the whole industry,” former President Ernest Bai Koroma told reporters. “We hope to lay to rest all of the difficulties we have in this mining sector and open it up, because it has a huge potential.”

At the time, in neighboring Liberia the Government completed a review of major mining contracts, including one with the iron-mining company Arcelor Mittal of India. The revised contract removed clauses exempting the company from Liberian environmental and human rights law, removed certain tax holidays and enforced compensation and property rights for people living in areas affected by the mines.

Patrick Alley, Director of Global Witness, an NGO that campaigns for better mining contracts, said that such reviews are vital.

“Predatory and unfair investments in natural resources in developing countries, especially post-conflict countries, set back development,” he says. “It is good that the Liberian government brought Mittal back to the negotiating table, and good that Mittal renegotiated the contract. In countries coming out of wars that were fuelled by natural resources, [bad] deals like this are playing with fire.”

African countries have been through cycles of high and low metal and oil prices before. Previously, bad contracts, mismanagement, corruption and poor investment of windfall revenues continued to leave populations poor and economies undiversified even after bountiful times. Turning this situation around, experts say, will require greater transparency, improved planning for the use of revenues and better partnerships among companies, governments and communities.

Transparency in Africa’s mineral resources industry is especially difficult in countries coming out of war. Civil society activists often cite the mining industry in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In March 2007 a coalition of more than 100 international and local Congolese non-governmental organizations (NGOs) demanded that the government “renegotiate, revoke, or cancel” disadvantageous mining contracts that had been signed during the war or under the transitional government that was in power from 2002 to 2006.

The NGOs claimed that three of the largest contracts approved by the transitional government had “collectively signed away over 70 per cent of the government’s most valuable copper and cobalt reserves to international companies.” None were negotiated in a transparent manner, the NGOs asserted.

In theory, publishing all data on mining revenues and on what mining companies pay to governments should make it possible for citizens and development experts to track how much of the wealth is being used to help reduce poverty. This, it is hoped, will encourage transparency and accountability on the part of governments and mining companies. Sixteen African countries, including Burkina Faso, Ghana, Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone have joined the initiative.

Celebrating World Post Day… SALPOST Launches Letter Writing Competition

October 10, 2019

By Foday Moriba Conteh

With a view to support the President’s Vision in promoting Quality Education, the Sierra Leone Postal Services (SALPOST) in collaboration with the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary School Education (MBSSE) has on Wednesday 9^th October, 2019 launched the yearly letter writing completion for school pupils in Sierra Leone.

The event took place at the commemoration of the 145 years of the existence of the Universal Postal Union and 50 years of World Post Day celebration with the theme: “Celebrating 145 Years of Delivering Development & 50 Years of Union’s Existence” at the institution’s Head Office on Siaka Stevens Street in Freetown.

Deputy Minister of Information and Communication on behalf of the Minster Mamadi Gobeh Kamara disclosed that the purpose of World Post Day is to bring awareness to the Post’s role in the everyday lives of people and businesses, adding that it is also contributing to global social and economic development. She noted that this year’s theme: “Celebrating 145 years of delivering development & 50 years of union’s existence” is not only timely but important towards the rebranding of our postal services in the country.

She noted that prior to the civil war, the post office was rated among the best in the world, but said over the years, SALPOST has lost its vast network, largely due to the civil war, but also because of inability to take advantage of the advent of modern technological innovations like the e-mail and new media.

She added that the New Direction Government led by President Dr. Julius Maada Bio inherited a National Postal Service that was left unprotected against the proliferation of privately run postal service like TNT, Red Coat, UPS and the increasingly domineering DHL which operates seemingly unchecked, against a crucial provision in the current Postal Services Act, which gives exclusive right to SALPOST to handle all mails up to 2kgs.

She assured SALPOST that the Ministry of Information and Communications will support a countrywide network of post offices that will provide Government with many points of contacts with people for the implementation of administrative programs in such fields as social security, taxation, and public information, adding that she is of the firm conviction that when the operations of SALPOST are properly developed, the post office may also become one of the principal employers in the country that may help to promote economic growth as it has the potential to become a major user of transport services that will in return create more employment in the country.

Assistant Director, Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary School Education applauded the Management and Staff of SALPOST as they commemorate “World Post Day”. She added that in its strides to restore education, the Ministry do appreciate and receive with gratitude any intervention that will add value to this assignment.

She said in celebrating this day the Ministry is happy to partner with SALPOST for the formal launch of a yearly letter writing competition for school pupils across the country from primary to JSS3 level.

He assured SALPOST that the Ministry will pledge its support to the programme and any related activity by SALPOST that will contribute to improve on quality education for school pupils.

Managing Director of the Sierra Leone Postal Services (SALPOST), Brima Katta, disclosed that World Post Day is celebrated by 192 member countries around the world on the 9^th October every year, adding that the Universal Postal Union (UPU) itself was created in 1874 (145 years ago) furthering how the World Post Day commemoration was first launched at the Universal Postal Congress in Tokyo in 1969 (50 years ago).

He said SALPOST is not only commemorating or celebrating World Post Day but also to raise awareness of the role of the national Postal Service in the everyday life of the people of Sierra Leone, the State and businesses as well as its contributions to global, social and economic development through public/social and financial service delivery.

He noted that SALPOST, in collaboration with the Ministry of Basic Education, Information & Communications, the National Commission for Privatization, DSTI, MoF and other stakeholders would like to mark this year’s celebration with the launching of a special annual event for school pupils across the country, adding that from the 9^th October, 2020 they will be organizing a National School Letter Writing & Essay Competition for school pupils .between the age of 9-15, with attractive prizes for winners and runners up.

In New York… Africell Markets Sierra Leone’s Investment Potentials

October 10, 2019

President Bio addressing potential investors and lobbyists

PRESS RELEASE

SIERRA LEONE CELEBRATED AS “OPEN FOR BUSINESS” AT PRESIDENTIAL GATHERING IN NEW YORK CITY

Representatives of the government, business and financial communities discussed new and existing opportunities for overseas investment in Sierra Leone
H.E. Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone, addressed guests and commented on Sierra Leone’s recent economic developments and the government’s plans to spur further growth
Africell presented a case study of its experience as a leading American investor in Sierra Leone

Africell Holding Ltd (Africell) hosted a gathering for His Excellency the President of Sierra Leone and the First Lady, senior members of his government and leading business and investment figures in New York City on Friday evening to celebrate Sierra Leone’s strengths as an overseas investment destination and to discuss opportunities for future partnership and growth.

The event took place on the fringes of the United Nations General Assembly Annual Meeting, a premier conference consisting of the most influential decision-makers from Africa and around the world.

In a series of discussions and presentations to an audience containing H.E Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone, as well as selected business leaders, international investors and representatives of a variety of international governmental bodies, Sierra Leone was described as an African success story and a model of resilience. Guests considered the pace of Sierra Leone’s development, its robust response to national challenges, the emergence of new industries and continued strength of traditional ones and the Government’s commitment to improving governance.

To add depth to the analysis, Africell – Sierra Leone’s leading mobile telecommunications company – gave insights into its own experience as a leading international investor in Sierra Leone. Ian Paterson, Africell’s Chief Investment Officer and Shadi Gerjawi, CEO of Africell Sierra Leone, identified six specific factors behind Africell’s success: taking a long-term perspective; focusing on people; maintaining an entrepreneurial attitude; supporting community development; fostering resilience; and displaying integrity.

In his remarks to guests, H.E. Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone, said: “Africell is a good corporate citizen which is way ahead on the CSR ladder. We want to make Sierra Leone the hub of science, technology and innovation and Africell has done an exceptional job helping us move towards this vision”.

Commenting on the event, Ziad Dalloul, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and Founder of Africell said:

“Africell understands first-hand how welcoming Sierra Leone is to international investors. Since 2005, we have benefitted from an increasingly diversified economy, talented and passionate local people, and a government taking practical steps to increase transparency and reduce corruption. As a committed partner to the government and people of Sierra Leone, Africell is proud to host events such as these which bring together key decision-makers, position Sierra Leone in front of a senior international audience, and boost Sierra Leone’s emerging reputation as an exciting destination for international investors from diverse sectors.”

ENDS

About Africell

Africell is an African mobile technology company.

We provide fast, low-cost and reliable mobile network coverage and related technology services to millions of individuals, communities and business in four vibrant African countries, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, RD Congo, and Uganda.

In Sierra Leone, Africell is the market leader, with over 4.5 million subscribers and a market share of over 70%. Having established in Sierra Leone in 2005, Africell is now a key private sector employer, with over 1,000 talented local employees.

Africell is a disruptor: keen to challenge inefficiencies, embrace fresh thinking and deliver innovative products and services which make a practical difference to everyday people.

Our corporate social responsibility and positive community impact, as well as our entrepreneurial spirit and transparent business activities, make Africell the ideal mobile network provider for Africa’s future.

www.africell.sl

Shadi Gerjawi: CEO of Africell Sierra Leone

Ian Paterson: Africell’s Chief Investment Officer

David Moinina Sengeh: CIO DSTI witnessed the event.

Africell’s Chief with H.E Bio and First Lady

Ziad Dalloul: Presenting Africell’s investment footprint

Ziad Dalloul :Founder and CEO, Africell Holdings.

Wife Fears Missing Husband Must Be In Trouble

October 10, 2019

PHOTO-2020-05-19-15-04-25 — Amadu Neh Kamara, missing for the past one month

By Amara Samura

The wife of a popular opposition figure in Sierra Leone, Mrs. Lamrana Kamara residing at Hill Station, West of the capital, Freetown has expressed fears that her missing husband Amadu Neh Kamara must be in trouble.

Mr. Kamara who was deployed by his All People’s Congress party as polling agent to observe the August 24th 2019, Parliamentary bye-election at Goderich in Freetown was among some of his party supporters who were reportedly manhandled by hooligans of the governing Sierra Leone People’s Party for their alleged involvement in a chaos at the end of the polls even though they had persistently denied the allegation.

Lamrana claimed that since that incident, her husband and members of his family were frequently subjected to harassment and molestation by his attackers and at one point were detained for few weeks. She said since September last year when her husband disappeared from home she has not heard any information about his whereabouts suspecting that the ruling SLPP and some security forces are be behind the act.

Mrs. Kamara said she knows her husband Kamara was not only popular but was a fearless politician who had severally defended his party.

Lamrana said she knows the SLPP and some security forces are hunting her husband because he and some of his APC party colleagues had already been declared wanted for their involvement in the violence at the end of the August 24th Parliamentary bye-election.

Since the fearless APC supporter was declared wanted, his whereabouts remained unknown with the growing fear among his family members that he must be in trouble.

Sierra Leone President Turns Sod for Construction of a Bakery Plant in Wellington

October 8, 2019

By Alim Jalloh

On the 8^th October 2019 during a snap but very interesting program His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio has turned the sod to commence the construction of SONOCO Assembly Plant Facility for baking equipment and training center for food technology and related electrical and mechanical maintenance technicians, at Wellington, East End of Freetown.

Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Edward Hinga Sandi, said that the theme for the event, “Industry Development for Job Creation and Food Security” was a direct response to the vision of the President in Human Capital Development with focus on middle manpower training, which also resonated with the theme of the country’s 2020 National Budget Agenda.

He said that the project could provide over five thousand jobs in the next two to three years and disclosed that a similar project would be replicated in all five regions across Sierra Leone. He noted that the project would also establish a flour production facility with the capacity of two thousand five hundred metric tons production per day, adding that the venture would not only meet the local demands of flour but would become a major export line.

Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Professor Aiah Kpakiwa, said the SONOCO Group was also ready to help the country in the technical vocation education training that would help to take care of the middle level manpower. He said the company would provide training for Sierra Leoneans in bakery mechanics and machineries. He also disclosed that within weeks, his ministry would operationalize technical vocation education centers in ten districts with plans underway for the remaining districts.

National Chairman for the Bakers Union, Chernoh Saadu Jalloh, said that they were particularly pleased with the government for its efforts in setting up the factory that would ease their work. He also commended the leadership of the New Direction for the reduction in the price of flour in the country and added that such a project was coming to the country for the first time ever.

Deputy Managing Director, Abdoul Karim Diallo, said that they were grateful to the Government for providing them the environment to invest in a project that would directly generate thousands of jobs in the next three years and stated that the construction would take eight months. He said his Group had heard the call of the government to initiate an investment that would contribute to the industrialization of Sierra Leone, heighten the technological level and create jobs.

“We will feed the brain here by training young people by building a world-class training center for bakers to modernize the bakery profession in Sierra Leone. We will feed the tummy by producing bread in the bakery that will be built here and we will take care of the welfare of the human being because the equipment and the food that will be produced here will respect all the standards in terms of environment, safety and nutrition that will help strengthen the health of the consumers,” he said.

On his part, President Bio said that the private sector had to lead if sustainable development and growth were to take place, adding that the private sector was the engine for economic growth. He commended the SONOCO Group for moving quickly to establish a factory that would serve the country and the sub-region. He also assured that as part of its responsibilities, his government would continue to provide the enabling environment that would encourage investments.

“We have to be integrated if we are to create a market that will serve our purpose. We are a small nation with a small market but we if we work toward creating the environment that is inviting enough to bring more, then some of the challenges we face will go away. Creating an ecosystem that is conducive for investment is a collective effort not only from government but from everyone.”

“We must work collectively to support development in this country. I appeal to us all to create that enabling environment that will support private investment by looking at our own attitudes. We are good people and I want to encourage and inspire every Sierra Leonean to change our attitudes for the good of our country,” he ended.

As Poverty Deepens… Critical Need for Sierra Leone Government & Partners to Rethink Development Actions

October 8, 2019

=COMMENTARY=

By Amin Kef Sesay

In the poorest countries, nearly two decades into the millennium, poverty is still a matter of life and death. Despite commitments to inclusive, pro-poor and broad-based growth, the poorest 20% of people still receive just 1% of global income.

Ending poverty requires a sustainable and comprehensive approach which will lift and sustain people above the poverty line while also ensuring they are more resilient to crisis and are able to benefit from opportunity and progress.

It is not simply a matter of lifting every one living on $2 day or less above the international poverty line. If it were a matter of increasing income alone, this would be a more achievable challenge.

Ending poverty requires fundamental changes to the systems that will drive its end and the factors that perpetuate it; ensuring that the people lifted out of poverty are then able to access services, fully participate in society and benefit from national and global growth.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Agenda 2030) sets an ambitious but achievable, universal and holistic agenda for all. There is a clear call for action to dramatically scale up development finance and improve the development impact of all financial flows. But it is at risk as the gap between the poorest people and the rest of the world widens.

Fragility and poverty still converge while national-level inequality is on the rise. Development finance has to respond to the demands set by the Sustainable Development Goals with the changes and action needed to ensure their aspirations become reality for all.

Progress is possible when we work together to a shared agenda. But real challenges remain and some are becoming more acute. The right balance between promoting growth and direct assistance to people in poverty and the need to mobilize more resources and use them effectively has to be found by the government and its development partners.

The poorest people are falling further and further behind everyone else as the income gap grows, consumption floors remain functionally stagnant for the poorest people and critical investment is not made in social protection and building human capital.

In that context, Official Development Assistance (ODA) continues to be the most critical source of external financing for development to support and complement national investments, particularly for the people and places most at risk of being left behind. Yet, worrying trends show a shift away from a clear allocation to the people, countries and sectors most critical to ending poverty.

All resources and all actors have a responsibility and a role to play, but investing to end poverty and closing the gap needs more than scaling up resources as many international resources increasingly bypass where they are needed most – in countries with high poverty rates and low domestic resource capacity.

Information and data have not kept pace with the need for ever more disaggregated data to effectively identify the people and places most at risk and the resources available to them. And nor has investment and support for data use to target resources to the people furthest behind.

All these factors mean that Agenda 2030 and its inspirational call to action are at risk – financing is only part of delivering sustainable development for all, but a necessary part. A future of business as usual will fail too many people, in too many places.

Invest in data

Better data is required to target resources effectively to the people who need it most and, for each of those resources, to measure who is included and who is left out. That means greater investment in systems to ensure everyone is counted, and in the collection and use of data disaggregated by income, gender, geographic location, age and disability to identify the people at greatest risk of being left behind.

Political will and leadership are critical: Despite limitations in data, who is at risk of being left behind and where they are, or will be, is broadly known. As are many of the types of investments, tools and mechanisms to best reach them. The allocation of resources is ultimately a political act, shaped by competing political incentives.

How successfully these are overcome during the next decade will be measured by how many people remain in extreme and other dimensions of poverty, how many people remain excluded from progress and for how long the gap between the poorest and the rest continues to grow.

Social protection systems have a vital role in ending extreme poverty. Some 36% of people in extreme poverty who received safety net benefits escaped extreme poverty.

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