Sierra Leone Emerging Public Leaders of Sierra Leone
The Emerging Public Leaders (EPL), in partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone through the Office of the Minister of Public Administration and Political Affairs, has launched its Public Service Fellowship Program in Sierra Leone, which aims to strengthen public service delivery by recruiting and training young leaders to drive ethical governance in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. This expansion builds on EPL's successful model across other African countries such as Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, and will significantly contribute to good governance in Sierra Leone.
The program seeks to empower Sierra Leone’s youth, build ethical public service leadership, and contribute to sustainable governance reforms, aligning with national priorities and regional development goals. In collaboration with the Public Service Commission, Public Sector Reform Unit, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, and Human Resource Management Office, our training and mentorship curriculum and program framework will continue to be contextualized to empower youth and foster ethical leadership within the civil service through a collaboratively developed curriculum and program framework.
In March 2025, Emerging Public Leaders and our partners at the Public Service Commission reviewed 150 applications for the first cohort, and after a rigorous shortlisting process, 93 candidates (25 women and 68 men) were selected to participate in one-on-one and group interviews. The final selected 75 exceptional young women and men will be announced as part of Emerging Public Leaders of Sierra Leone’s first cohort later this year.
Our Team in Sierra Leone
Robert Yona Fefegula is an accomplished development leader with over a decade of experience advancing good governance, youth empowerment, and social impact across Sierra Leone. Prior to joining Emerging Public Leaders, Robert served as Partnership and Resource Mobilization Manager at Rainbo Initiative, where he led strategic donor engagement, resource mobilization, and organizational development. He has also held key roles with Action Against Hunger, Restless Development, BBC Media Action, ActionAid, and the Human Capital Institute, managing diverse teams and programs in areas such as governance, rights, fundraising, and humanitarian response.
Robert holds a Master’s degree in Development Management and a BA with Honors in Political Science from the University of Sierra Leone. He brings to EPL a strong track record in partnership building, grant management, and program delivery. He is passionate about empowering the next generation of public sector leaders to drive positive change in Sierra Leone.