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 welcomed its inaugural cohort of 75 young professionals to the Public Service Fellowship Program in Sierra Leone.

The PSF program 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 - Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, and Malawi - and will significantly contribute to good governance in Sierra Leone.

In collaboration with the Civil Service Training College, Public Service Commission, Public Sector Reform Unit, Ministry of Public Administration and Political Affairs, Ministry of Gender, Minister of Planning and Economic Development,  Human Resource Management Office, Ministry of Youth Affairs, and the Office of the President, our training and mentorship curriculum was contextualized during a two-day workshop. The collaboratively developed curriculum and program framework will empower youth and foster ethical leadership within the civil service, building accountability, integrity, and excellence in the next generation of public servants.

The first cohort was selected from a pool of 150 applicants following a rigorous shortlisting and interview process in March with our partners at the Public Service Commission. 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.

Emerging Public Leaders of Sierra Leone hosted a week-long orientation for the inaugural cohort of 75 exceptional young women and men in early October. The orientation took place at LAC’s Villa in Freetown and was attended by representatives of various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, where the Fellows will serve a 12-month placement.

The Secretary of the Public Service Commission, Mohamed Jusu, spoke to the incoming civil servants about the history of the public service in Sierra Leone and the great impact youth can have on their communities by serving with integrity, diligence and humility.

Our Team in Sierra Leone

  • Robert Yona Fefegula

    Country Director, EPL 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.

  • Ibrahim Frank Kargbo

    Senior Programs and Learning Associate