Freetown, June 16, 2025 — A delegation from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), currently in Sierra Leone for a national credit rating assessment and capacity-building mission, paid a courtesy call to Financial Secretary Matthew Dingie at the Ministry of Finance in Freetown.
According to the Ministry’s Communications Unit, the visit forms part of ongoing consultations aimed at preparing the country for a formal credit rating. The Financial Secretary welcomed the delegation and outlined the government’s commitment to strengthening public financial management and ensuring debt sustainability, particularly in the context of its current Extended Credit Facility (ECF) programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Director of the Public Debt Division, Mathew Sandy, provided background on Sierra Leone’s earlier attempt to pursue a credit rating, which began nearly five years ago but was delayed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said the government is encouraged by recent improvements in economic indicators such as inflation and exchange rate performance, and is ready to re-engage the process.
The visiting team from UNDP outlined their approach to supporting African countries through mentorship-based capacity building, focusing on practical engagement rather than traditional workshops. They highlighted the importance of accurate and accessible data to the rating process and noted that the assessment will cover key areas including economic performance, governance, debt, revenue, and expenditures.
The capacity-building mission includes personnel from the Ministry of Finance’s Public Debt Management Division, Budget Bureau, Fiscal Risk Unit, Accountant General’s Department, and Micro-Fiscal and Research Unit. It also involves representatives from the Bank of Sierra Leone, Statistics Sierra Leone, and the National Minerals Agency.
