By: Yusuf Ibrahim Kamara (The Wise Thinker)
The National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) has intensified efforts to expand social security coverage to Sierra Leone’s vast informal workforce through a proposed partnership with the Government of Egypt.
The initiative was highlighted during a high-level engagement between NASSIT Director General Mohamed Fuaad Daboh and Egypt’s Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Rasha Soliman Mohi Eldin Soliman, at the Egyptian Embassy in Freetown.
During the meeting, Mr. Daboh underscored the urgent need to extend social protection benefits to workers operating outside the formal employment sector. He noted that a significant majority of Sierra Leone’s labour force earns a living through informal economic activities, leaving millions without access to retirement benefits, disability support, and other critical social security protections.
According to the Director General, NASSIT is currently advancing plans for a comprehensive Informal Sector Policy aimed at bringing traders, farmers, artisans, transport operators, and other self-employed workers under the country’s social security framework. He described the move as a major step toward promoting inclusive economic growth and safeguarding vulnerable workers against future uncertainties.
Mr. Daboh stressed that social security should be viewed as a fundamental right rather than a privilege reserved for formal sector employees. He maintained that broadening social protection coverage would contribute significantly to national development, poverty reduction, and long-term economic stability.
In response, Ambassador Soliman reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation with Sierra Leone across various sectors, including social protection and human resource development. She expressed Egypt’s readiness to support NASSIT through technical cooperation, institutional capacity building, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
The Ambassador explained that Egypt’s approach to international partnerships is driven by the specific needs of partner countries, adding that her government stands prepared to provide practical expertise that can assist Sierra Leone in designing and implementing an effective informal sector pension scheme.
She further emphasized the importance of vocational collaboration and professional training for social security personnel, noting that such exchanges would help strengthen institutional efficiency and improve service delivery.
Ambassador Soliman said Egypt remains committed to supporting Sierra Leone’s efforts to establish a sustainable and inclusive social protection system capable of serving workers across all sectors of the economy.
The engagement marks another step in the growing cooperation between Sierra Leone and Egypt, with both countries exploring avenues to strengthen social welfare systems and improve the livelihoods of citizens. Stakeholders believe that successful implementation of the proposed informal sector social security scheme could transform the lives of thousands of workers while setting a benchmark for similar initiatives across the region.