By Donstance Koroma
The Director General, Sierra Leone Local Content Agency, Fodeba Dabor had requested that ministry of finance to allocate the sum of over four billion Leone to enable the agency implement its planned activities for the financial year 2020
The Director General made this request on Tuesday st October 2019 at the ongoing 2020 budget presentation and discussions , Miata conference hall, Youyi building, Freetown.
In the coming year, the Director General told the ministries of finance and planning and economic development, Districts budget Oversight committee, Civil Society Organisations, community members and the media that the agency plans to conduct researches across all sectors covered by the country’s Local Content Agency Act, to establish accurate baseline values of all key Sierra Leonean content utilization, to help establish targets and milestones as per the Act with a possible collaboration with Statistics Sierra Leone
He noted that they intend establish a robust monitoring and evaluation system for agency to continue dialogue with companies and key institutions across the country to ensure timely compliance
Dabor added that market linkages of domestic entrepreneurs with foreign firms, continue local producers and suppliers capacity building to improve on standards and productivity.
He added that the TVET and Tertiary Institution curricula aligned to respond to the needs of the job market which he noted will further support the Agency’s job creation drive by putting the country’s workforce into high demand by businesses
Speaking on the expected deliverables for the financial year 2020, he said date generated from research conducted will be used to inform work of the Agency by integrated sectoral approach.
He said local businesses increased productivity, expansion, proper management of their businesses, boost employment opportunities, reduced closure of businesses, skills transfer among others
Youths will receive market driven skills and be connected with private sector company employers thereby reduced the risk of illegal migration he said
He stated that date generated from research conducted will be used to inform work of the Agency by integrating sectoral approach while the education system between the vocational and tertiary qualifications will be aligned.
In the area of job creation, Dabor noted that his agency will ensure all companies submit their Local Content plans that should depict clear milestones in employment, Training and staff progression, Technology transfer and supplier development and initiatives to support vocational institutions
He added his Agency will monitor to ensure these proposition are adhered to and companies commit to targets each of the milestones, on-line platform tracks performance against plan commitments, create strong market linkages between foreign investment and local entrepreneurs.
He pointed that such strategy will create a ripple demand effect for job creation among sectors in the Act
During the first half of 2019, the Agency developed a comprehensive database of local manufacturers and suppliers that is updated routinely, got over 30 companies to submit their local content plans first in the history of Sierra Leone, work with SMEDA to organize first ever regional Made in Sierra Leone trade fair in Bo and Kenema, collaborated with SMEDA & ILO to train 125 youths women disabled local entrepreneurs on product exhibition skills, collaborated with NATCOM on public private partnership skills development career guidance and job readiness framework,The Agency benefitted from the World Bank funded EITAP 2, to create market linkages between SMEs & Mining Companies across the country