Two Sierra Leonean professionals are set to travel to India this March for specialised training under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, following a send-off meeting with High Commissioner of India to Sierra Leone, B.C. Pradhan, at the Indian High Commission in Freetown.
Ms. Mary Kabay and Mr. Michael Farama were received by High Commissioner Pradhan ahead of their departure, in a gesture reflecting the warm and growing bilateral ties between India and Sierra Leone. The High Commissioner wished both delegates a productive and enriching experience, underscoring India’s commitment to capacity building across the African continent.
Ms. Kabay will attend a two-week course on Climate Resilience and Disaster Risk Management (CRDRM) at the Environment Protection Training and Research Institute (EPTRI) in Hyderabad, running from 5 to 18 March 2026. The training is particularly timely for Sierra Leone, a country that faces serious threats from flooding, coastal erosion, and the broader impacts of climate change — challenges that have placed mounting pressure on the country’s communities and public institutions.
Mr. Farama, meanwhile, will participate in a programme titled “Managing Infrastructure Development Risk: Lessons from India” at the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) in New Delhi, scheduled from 10 to 23 March 2026. The course draws on India’s extensive experience managing complex infrastructure projects across a diverse and developing nation — lessons that hold practical value for Sierra Leone as it works to expand and improve its own infrastructure.
The ITEC programme, instituted in 1964 by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, is one of the world’s oldest international capacity-building arrangements. It has trained more than 200,000 officials from over 160 countries Indembarg, offering fully-funded in-person training opportunities through nearly 400 courses at more than 100 institutions across India each year.
Sierra Leone is among the programme’s active beneficiaries. The country receives 50 ITEC training slots annually, a number that was increased to 86 in the 2024–25 cycle Hcifreetown — a sign of the deepening partnership between the two nations. Beyond ITEC, India has also expanded its ICCR scholarship scheme for Sierra Leoneans, growing from 15 to 37 slots for undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes. Hcifreetown
The bilateral relationship between India and Sierra Leone has strengthened considerably in recent years, spanning education, digital cooperation, defence training, and development assistance. Over 450 Sierra Leoneans have enrolled in the e-VidyaBharati programme for online education from Indian universities Hcifreetown, and a dedicated Learning Centre was established at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, with India providing essential infrastructure and internet support.
The departure of Ms. Kabay and Mr. Farama adds to a growing list of Sierra Leonean officials and professionals who have benefited from ITEC’s fully-funded training model, which covers travel, accommodation, and course costs. Their participation in courses focused on climate resilience and infrastructure risk reflects Sierra Leone’s broader national priorities — building the expertise needed to manage environmental vulnerabilities and drive sustainable development.
Both delegates are expected to return to Sierra Leone later in March, equipped with knowledge and networks that can be applied directly within their respective fields.
