Research & Policy
Overview
The Directorate of Policy Research, Planning and Knowledge Management at the Ministry of Youth Affairs serves as the intellectual and strategic engine of the Ministry. It is responsible for generating the evidence base that informs youth policy, coordinating the Ministry’s planning processes, and ensuring that knowledge — both internally generated and externally sourced — is systematically captured, managed, and applied to improve outcomes for young people in Sierra Leone.
Key Functions
- To Develop, review, and coordinate youth policies, strategies, guidelines, and frameworks in line with national development priorities.
- To Conduct research, surveys, and studies on youth-related issues such as unemployment, skills development, entrepreneurship, education, and social challenges affecting young people.
- To Prepare strategic plans, annual work plans, operational plans, and sector development frameworks for the ministry and its programmes.
- To Monitor and evaluate ministry projects, programmes, and policies to measure effectiveness, impact, and compliance with objectives.
- To Maintain databases, records, reports, and information systems related to youth affairs and ensure proper documentation and sharing of institutional knowledge.
- To Provide evidence-based policy advice and analytical reports to the Minister, Permanent Secretary, and senior management for informed decision-making.
- To Compile progress reports, performance reports, donor reports, and ministerial briefing documents on youth sector activities.
- To Collaborate with government ministries, development partners, NGOs, research institutions, and youth organizations on policy implementation and research initiatives.
- To Support programme design, budgeting, project planning, and resource mobilization for youth development interventions.
- To Track ministry targets, indicators, and outcomes to improve accountability and service delivery in the youth sector.