Samuel Kallon 
By: Musa Conteh, Senior Information Officer, CABSEC
The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Country Office in Sierra Leone delegation including N. Yonebayashi, Country Director, Ken Awano, Project Formulation Advisor and Butua Kanu, Training Programme Officer, paid a courtesy call on the Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service (SC&HOCS), at his office, the Cabinet Secretariat (CABSEC), located at the Vice President Office building, O.A.U. Drive, Tower Hill, Freetown, on Thursday 28th August, 2025 in order to foster stronger collaboration and partnership between JICA and the Cabinet Secretariat-SL.
This courtesy call on the SC&HOCS was very successful with exchange of kind gestures; as the JICA delegation was whole heartedly received with warm welcome. The meeting was embedded with frank and serious discussions that centered on partnership, cooperation and collaboration as well as aligning the both offices to complement government efforts for effective and efficient service delivery and national development.
Mr. Cole welcomed the JICA team and thanked them for providing support to the Government of Sierra Leone. He further stressed the need for support from JICA to the Cabinet Secretariat to enable it function effectively. He praised the Japanese for executing projects meticulously, disciplined and maintained deadlines. He applauded their visit as a move that is geared towards strengthening cooperation and coordination between JICA and CABSEC and by extension the government of Sierra Leone. ‘’We have excellent relationship with JICA. We know that you are present in all sectors and have given major assistant to government. We register our appreciation for your efforts’’, he furthered.
- Yonebayashi, Country Director, JICA, expressed appreciation to the SCHOCS for the kind hospitality and for his contribution towards national development. He explained that the courtesy call on the SC&HOCS is to talk about future cooperation between CABSEC and JICA and by extension positive relationship with the Government of Sierra Leone. He said JICA is committed to strengthen relationship between the government of Sierra Leone and more especially between the Cabinet Secretariat-SL and JICA. ‘’The Civil and Public are very important. We need to put some inputs with opportunities such as long-term training programmes,’’ he says.
The SC&HOCS in response emphasized on the relevance of building strong partnership between the two offices and stressed his commitments to support and encourage sustainable partnership, cooperation and collaboration that will bring fruitful achievements and positive results. He highlighted some of the constraints and challenges faced in running the affairs of the CABSEC. He stated that focus should be made on the CABSEC. ‘’We have certain needs: We need our own Secretariat to service Cabinet meetings and handle Civil/Public affairs’’, Mr. Cole said.
The Cabinet Secretariat-SL and JICA ties centered around partnership for national development. The focus in the candid talks was supporting the implementation/execution of activities proposals such as projects and programmes to complement government efforts. In effect, both offices pledged their unwavering partnership and support towards innovative initiatives and quality service delivery for a brighter future of the people and country.
However, meeting was productive for both parties. In essence, the main point/topic of discussion was support to the Secretariat to ensure quality service delivery. Moreover, to enhance the proper functioning of the Cabinet Secretariat, move it to higher heights and make it work for Sierra Leone.
Finally, the whole, the meeting was good, both parties unanimously concluded that they should work together as partners for national development, and embrace positive values for positive results and impacts on the people and country of Sierra Leone.
