22/04/2026
JAPAN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AGENCY (JICA) AND HEALTH FOR ALL COALITION – SIERRA LEONE (HFAC-SL) MEET TO STRENGTHEN HEALTH DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION.
The Resident Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) – Sierra Leone Office MR. NORIHTO YONEBAYASHI on Monday 20th April, 2026 paid an official visit to the Head Office of Health For All Coalition – Sierra Leone (HFAC-SL) at 50 Fort Street, Central Freetown.
The JICA Resident Representative was received on arrival by High Powered Health For All Coalition staff led by the Executive Director Mr. Charles Mambu. In his welcome address, Mr. Charles Mambu expressed delight, honour, appreciation and warmly welcome the JICA Resident Representative to HFAC-SL Head Office. The Executive Director went further to give statement on the background and capacity of HFAC-SL.
According to Mr. Mambu, Health For All Coalition was established in the year 2007 with clear mission to campaign for Available, Accessible and Affordable quality Health Care Service for the people of Sierra Leone irrespective of race, tribe, location region of birth etc. Health For All Coalition he went on, had and continue to lead on Civil Society National, Regional and Community Health and Health related Advocacy, Independent Monitoring Community Engagements ect interventions. The organisation he said continue to support the vision and mission of Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Health, Communities and Development Partners.
To date HFAC-SL, he said is highly recognized and appreciated by the Ministry of Health, citizens, partners and Communities whose efforts they are complementing. The Executive Director told his guest that HFAC-SL had Physical Structures and Human presence in all sixteen (16) Districts in the country represented by District Coordinators, five (5) Regional Supervisors and One Hundred and Ninety-One (191) Chiefdom Focal Persons. These officers he went on conduct advocacy, Independent Monitoring and engagement of Communities on Health outcomes.
Mr. Mambu also told his visitor that HFAC-SL had the capacity to undertake activities geared towards complementing the efforts of Ministry of Health and any of their Partners. He called for stronger and sustainable partnership between JICA and HFAC-SL. This he said is to further popularise, monitor and provide feedbacks on JICA Investments in the country. On partnership, the HFAC Executive Director pointed out that their organization works with United Nations Agencies in the country especially World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, UNFPA, WFP, UNDP etc. and other Local and International Non- Governmental Organizations.
Mr. Mambu stated further that Health For All Coalition had won many Local and International Awards and recognitions. For instance, from 2011 – 2014, HFAC-SL was rated and awarded as the BEST LOCAL IMPLEMENTING PARTNER FOR UNFPA AND IN 2013, HFAC-SL ATTAINED THE SECOND (2ND) POSITION globally during UNFPA Global competition on Family Planning Promotion and Research. Additionally, in the year 2022, during the first National Health Summit, the Hon. Minister of Health Dr. Austin Demby and the entire Ministry of Health Officers pronounced and awarded HFAC-SL AS THE BEST CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATION IN PROMOTING HEALTH AND WELLBEING IN SIERRA LEONE.
On the Legal status of the organization, Mr. Mambu told the Japanese Envoy that their organization is always in compliance with laws of the Country. HFAC renew it registration with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) and Sierra Leone Association of Non-Governmental Organization (SLANGO) among others.
In his response, the JICA Resident Representative to Sierra Leone MR. NORIHTO YONEBAYASHI firstly thanks the Executive Director and Team for warmly receiving him to their Head Office and secondly expressed his delight that he has the opportunity to visit the Head Quarter Office of a highly rated and respected health and development oriented Civil Society Organization. The Resident Representative said HFAC needs no introduction as their Executive Director and other members are highly vocal, respected and always provide good interventions in high level meetings he had attended during his stay in the country, He told his host that JAPAN is a key reliable development partner to the Government and the people of Sierra Leone.
Good relationship between the two countries had existed for many years and highly appreciate the good people and Government of Sierra Leone MR. YONEBAYASHI opined. On the partnership with HFAC he promised to sustain the engagements after consultations with his colleagues upon his return. Mr. YONEBAYASHI disclosed that Japan will continue to support the development aspiration of the Government and people of Sierra Leone despite the global economic crisis and other unforeseen situations.
In closing, JICA and HFAC-SL resolved to undertake frequent engagement to understand each other works, identify partnership areas and endeavour to strengthen and sustain Sierra Leone Japan Relationship.
The visit ended with a group photos and tour of HFAC offices.