Sierra Leone's Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, delivered a virtual address at the World Bank Fragility Forum 2026, emphasizing the need for resilient partnerships and investment in youth. Dr. Jalloh noted employment creation as a critical pillar for peace, stability, and long-term national development. He stated, "International support in fragile settings must focus on building resilience, strengthening institutions and creating jobs for young people." He also noted, "As aid flows decline, geopolitical competition intensifies and climate shocks become more frequent, the challenge before us is not only how to finance development, but how to sustain the gains we have already made." Dr. Jalloh concluded, "The task ahead is to ensure that our partnerships deliver practical solutions that improve lives and expand opportunity for every Sierra Leonean."
Urgent Need for New Aid Approach
The World Bank Fragility Forum 2026 convened on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, providing a global platform for discussions on critical issues. The annual World Bank Fragility Forum serves as a global platform for discussions on policies and strategies aimed at supporting countries affected by conflict, economic instability, and governance challenges. The annual event focuses on developing policies and strategies to support nations grappling with conflict, economic instability, and governance challenges. Discussions at the forum often center on reforming international aid approaches to ensure sustainability and effectiveness in fragile contexts. The event aims to foster collaboration among international partners, governments, and civil society to address the complex needs of these vulnerable countries and build pathways toward resilience. Participants examine how financial support and strategic interventions can best be tailored to promote long-term stability and development. The forum emphasizes the importance of moving beyond traditional aid models to more integrated and sustainable solutions that empower local communities and strengthen national capacities.
Prioritizing Youth Employment
Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh stated that international assistance to fragile states must move beyond short-term interventions, focusing instead on strengthening the foundations for lasting stability and economic growth. He noted the importance of investing in young people, describing employment creation as a critical pillar for peace, stability, and long-term national development. He emphasized that international support in fragile settings must concentrate on "building resilience, strengthening institutions and creating jobs for young people." Dr. Jalloh also noted global challenges, noting, "As aid flows decline, geopolitical competition intensifies and climate shocks become more frequent, the challenge before us is not only how to finance development, but how to sustain the gains we have already made." He concluded by asserting that the primary objective for partnerships is to "deliver practical solutions that improve lives and expand opportunity for every Sierra Leonean." The Vice President showed that a strategic focus on youth engagement and economic empowerment is vital for preventing social unrest and fostering inclusive development.
Global Pressures on Fragile States
Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh emphasized that preserving development progress requires stronger collaboration between governments, international financial institutions, and development partners. The Sierra Leone Vice President stated that international support in fragile settings must concentrate on "building resilience, strengthening institutions and creating jobs for young people." He noted global challenges affecting these efforts, noting, "As aid flows decline, geopolitical competition intensifies and climate shocks become more frequent, the challenge before us is not only how to finance development, but how to sustain the gains we have already made." Dr. Jalloh concluded that the primary objective for partnerships is to "deliver practical solutions that improve lives and expand opportunity for every Sierra Leonean." He stressed that these global pressures necessitate a more coordinated and adaptive response from the international community to safeguard the gains made in vulnerable nations. The Vice President’s address served as a call to action for a renewed commitment to full and sustained support for fragile states.
