Budget Advocacy Network Sierra Leone -BAN

19/08/2026

15/08/2026

BAN Calls for Stronger Transparency and Accountability in Public Financial Management

The Coordinator of the Budget Advocacy Network (BAN), Abu Bakarr Kamara, is calling for stronger transparency, access to information, and accountability as civil society and the media engage the Ministry of Finance on proposed reforms to Sierra Leone's public financial management framework.

Speaking at a joint civil society–media engagement, Kamara highlighted three priority areas for a forthcoming position paper: access to public financial information, audit follow-up, and accountability at the local government level.

"We need civil society to amplify the issues and the media also needs information on the same issues. We are almost doing similar work and complementing each other," Kamara said.

The position paper was presented to the Minister of Finance on Friday, before stakeholders continue engaging with Parliament as the reform process advances.
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06/08/2026

Sierra Leone's 5% rice import duty was introduced to fund the Agricultural Development Fund and support the Feed Salone programme. A policy brief by BAN, the 50/50 Group and Christian Aid found that only 9% of revenue collected has actually reached the Fund, and that women farmers — who face persistent barriers to land, finance, inputs and markets — have not received the intended benefits.

What the Policy Brief Recommends
• Transfer all duty proceeds to the Agricultural Development Fund every quarter.
• Reserve at least 30% of the Fund for programmes directly benefiting women farmers, as a floor, not a ceiling.
• Simplify eligibility criteria and application procedures for accessing the Fund.
• Publish regular data on revenue collection, transfers, expenditure and beneficiaries.
• Establish a standing order at the Bank of Sierra Leone to make transfers automatic and predictable.

What Government Said
• Ministry of Finance: called the transfer gap “a serious accountability concern” and backed exploring a standing order mechanism.
• Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security: acknowledged support for women farmers “remains a work in progress”; did not commit to the 30% floor but welcomed continued advocacy.
• National Revenue Authority: warned that failing to deliver on the commitment “could weaken public trust and affect voluntary tax compliance,” and committed to continued public reporting.

Next Steps
• BAN will seek written clarification from the Ministry of Finance on the status of the untransferred 91%.
• Technical meeting to assess the feasibility of a standing order for automatic transfers.
• Continued advocacy for a published, transparent allocation formula with a guaranteed minimum for women farmers.
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06/08/2026

Only 9% of Sierra Leone's rice import duty revenue has reached the fund meant to support farmers — and women are paying the price.

That's the headline finding from a new policy brief presented today at a stakeholder dialogue hosted by the Budget Advocacy Network (BAN) and the 50/50 Group, in partnership with Christian Aid, at the Brookfields Hotel in Freetown.

Of the Le365.2 million collected from the 5% duty since 2024, just Le31.9 million made it to the Agricultural Development Fund. The remaining 91% — roughly Le333 million — is unaccounted for, and the government's own Ministry of Finance called it “a serious accountability concern.”

Women farmers, who already face major barriers to land, finance and inputs, were promised at least 30% of that Fund. They're still waiting.

At today's workshop, the Ministry of Finance said it will explore a standing order to make transfers automatic. The Ministry of Agriculture and the National Revenue Authority also responded, committing to greater transparency and continued engagement with BAN.
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04/08/2026

04/08/2026

Budget Term of the Week: National Budget

What is a National Budget?

A National Budget is the government’s annual financial plan that outlines how it will raise revenue and spend public funds during a fiscal year. It reflects government priorities and allocates resources to sectors such as education, health, agriculture, infrastructure, security, and social protection.

Why Does It Matter?

* Guides national development and public service delivery.
* Ensures resources are allocated to government priorities.
* Promotes economic growth and fiscal stability.
* Enables citizens to monitor how public money is raised and spent.
* Supports transparency and accountability in public finance.

Did You Know?

A well-prepared national budget helps governments balance available resources with the country’s development needs while promoting efficient and responsible use of public funds.
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03/08/2026

Quote of the Week

“A national budget is more than a financial plan, it is a statement of a nation’s priorities, values, and commitment to improving the lives of its people. When budgets are transparent, inclusive, and accountable, they become powerful tools for sustainable development.”
Source from Budget Advocacy Network

30/07/2026

Budget Term of the Week: Transparency

What is Transparency?

Transparency means making government decisions, budgets, and financial information open, accessible, and understandable to the public. It enables citizens to know how public resources are raised, allocated and spent.

Why Does It Matter?
• Builds public trust in government.
• Reduces corruption and misuse of public funds.
• Promotes accountability in public institutions.
• Enables meaningful citizen participation in budget and policy decisions.
• Improves the efficiency and effectiveness of public spending.

Did You Know?

Budget transparency is a key pillar of good governance. The Open Budget Survey (OBS) assesses the availability, timeliness, and quality of budget information.

In the 2025 OBS, Sierra Leone scored 50 out of 100 for budget transparency, declining from 55 in 2023. Although the score remains above the regional average, it falls below the 61-point benchmark considered sufficient to support informed public debate on the national budget. UNICEF Sierra Leone.

29/07/2026

BAN Engages Marginalised Groups on Priorities for the 2027 National Budget

The Budget Advocacy Network (BAN) today held a pre-budget engagement with marginalised and vulnerable groups to identify and document their priority needs for inclusion in Sierra Leone’s 2027 national budget.

Opening the engagement, BAN Coordinator Abu Bakarr Kamara said the meeting reflected the principle that “no one should be left behind” in the national budget process.

“The essence of this meeting is to collect the needs and aspirations of women, older persons, women farmers, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups so that the 2027 national budget can capture and provide allocations for them,” Kamara said.

He explained that the national budget should serve everyone, but the budget preparation process often fails to consider the specific needs of marginalised groups.

“Although we say the budget is for everyone, it does not always capture the needs of people who are normally excluded from budget development. We want to identify those needs and advocate for specific budget allocations,” he stated.

Kamara said BAN would consolidate and prioritise the issues raised during the engagement before presenting them to the ministries and institutions responsible for addressing them. BAN will align each priority with the mandate of the relevant institution to support its inclusion in detailed ministerial budget proposals.

“We will package the identified needs and present them to the responsible ministries. If an issue falls under social welfare, health, agriculture or gender, we will engage the appropriate institution and ask it to include that priority in its budget,” he explained. Adding that BAN would support representatives of marginalised groups to present their priorities directly to government officials in national budget discussions.

“We want the voices of marginalised groups to be factored into the budget. Where possible, we will invite their representatives to the budget discussions so that they can explain their needs directly,” Kamara said.

The Coordinator stressed that BAN’s advocacy would continue beyond securing budget lines. The organisation will monitor allocations, releases and expenditure to determine whether approved resources reach the intended groups.

“It is not enough to create a project line in the budget. We must follow up to ensure that the money is allocated, released and used to address the identified needs,” he emphasised.

Participants discussed their challenges and proposed practical interventions requiring government funding. BAN documented the priorities for further analysis and engagement with relevant ministries.

In her closing remarks, Miriam Ann Sammoh, Project Officer, Making Tax Work for Women, thanked participants for attending and openly sharing their experiences and priorities. She confirmed that BAN had documented the various needs raised during the meeting and would use them to support advocacy for a more inclusive 2027 national budget.