PSRU Officially Handed over MFR Reports to the Leadership of NPAA And NPPA

The Director of Public Sector Reform Unit, (PSRU), Mr. Sulaiman Phoray-Musa, has on Monday 10th February, 2025, officially handed over Management and Functional Review Reports to the leadership of the National Protected Area Authority (NPAA) and the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA) to enhance efficiency and effective service delivery in the two institutions consistent with the Medium Term National Development Plan (MTNDP).

The NPPA, established under the Public Procurement Act of 2004, serves as the regulatory body overseeing public procurement processes in Sierra Leone. Its mandate includes advising the government on procurement policies and ensuring transparency and accountability in public spending.

Since its establishment, this is the first time a management and functional review has been conducted to address functional inefficiencies and other management issues that are impeding that work of the authority to deliver on its mandate.

Similarly, National Protected Area Authority (NPAA) was established by and Act of Parliament in 2012 to promote biodiversity conservation, wildlife management, research and to provide for the sale of ecosystems services in the National Protected Areas.
Following its establishment over ten years ago, this is the first Management and Functional Review (MFR) that has been conducted by PSRU to assess and enhance its efficiency with the view to addressing addressing operational challenges and align its structure with its conservation mandate.

In his presentation, the Director of PSRU, Mr. Sulaiman Phoray-Musa noted that the aims of the MFR was to identify gaps, streamline functions, and propose recommendations to improve service delivery within the two institutions.

He explained that the review covered the Mandates and Functions; Organisational Structure; Human Resource Management (staffing, training, rationalization.); Sectoral Coordination and Collaboration; Assets and Equipment Management; Communications and ICT and Supervisory framework of the two institutions.

Among the findings and recommendations were; the that section 17(1) of the NPPA Act 2016 was not clear on who should carryout procurement functions. The review team further noted that the Act was also not clear about the qualification requirements for Public Procurement Practitioners.

Furthermore, it was noted that the Public Procurement Regulation 2019 and the Finance Act 2022, contain provisions that are not fully consistent with the NPPA Act 2016, particularly regarding procurement thresholds, tender advertising, and contract award processes.

Therefore, the review recommends the immediate evaluation and alignment of the legal frameworks to ensure the harmonisation of all the relevant provisions of the NPPA Act 2016, its Regulations 2019, and the Finance Act 2022, with the aim of ensuring consistency and clarity in public procurement processes.
The review noted the lack of career pathways with no clarity in roles and responsibilities, and no properly designed Job Descriptions (JDs), the review also noted the lack of policy, Research and planning functions within the organic structure of the NPPA.
The review recommends the adoption of the approved organogram which gives a clear description of the different reporting lines and career pathways for existing positions.

Following the NPAA act of 2012, the Authority has not yet developed regulations to guide, interpret and implement the Act, nor has it secured the necessary resources and revenues for the operation and management of the National Protected Areas. It also recommends for the review of the act followed by the creation of regulations to strengthen the enforcement mechanisms of the Authority. Additionally, the review recommends that the roles and responsibilities of each institution within the sector be clearly defined.

The review also recommends that a new Board be established to facilitate the full operation and smooth functioning of the Authority in order to prevent the Executive Director from making unilateral decisions regarding the Authority’s administrative and operational functions.

The leadership of the two institutions promised to implement the recommendations to ensure effective functionality consistent with their respective mandates.

PSRU Officially Handed over MFR Reports to the Leadership of NPAA And NPPA

PSRU Officially Handed over MFR Reports to the Leadership of NPAA And NPPA

Public Sector Reform Unit (PSRU)