PREFACE SIERRA LEONE’s sustained commitment to successful implementation of the APRM is triggered by the country’s strong conviction that it would be a conduit for building peace, democracy, good governance and sustainable development. Against this context, the country submitted itself for an APRM review in an election year in 2012 and also presented its first and second progress reports in 2015 in the midst of an Ebola outbreak. Also noteworthy is that Sierra Leone’s President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma has clearly indicated his willingness to ensure the monitoring of AU Agenda 2063 and the UN Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) within the APRM framework in the country. Whilst the APRM is a major governance initiative that the country is promoting, other governance–oriented programmes have also been very noticeable in Sierra Leone. These include the Open Government Initiative (OGI), the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), Open Government Partnership (OGP) and the Attitudinal and Behavioral Change (ABC). All of these provide diverse platforms for citizen’s participation in governance, monitoring government activities and ensuring transparency and accountability. This combined progress report on the implementation of the APRM National Programme of Action (NPOA) was prepared at a time the country was grappling with hard economic conditions, having to operate in an environment of economic austerity measures. Notwithstanding these hard realities, the APRM National Governing Council moved headlong in monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the NPOA. Indeed, encouraging developments were observed as well as challenges in the country’s efforts in enthroning good governance. Remarkable progress in the implementation of the Sierra Leone APRM NPOA during the period under review include the robust fight against corruption through a pay no bribe campaign; skills training and job creation initiatives for youth; economy proved resilient in the face of two major shocks: the Ebola epidemic and collapse of iron ore prices; improvement in internal audit and public procurement processes among many others. Data collection methods of primary and secondary sources were employed. Interns were recruited to go round MDAs to collect relevant data and APRM National Secretariat staff members were also engaged in desk review of relevant literature. Regional sensitization tours were also undertaken by members of the APRM NGC in the four regional headquarter towns of Bo (Southern Region); Kenema (Eastern Region); Makeni (Northern Region) and Freetown (Western Region. During these regional tours, citizens in the regions were briefed on APRM activities and APRM Regional District Committees were also restructured and established. Participants were also engaged on the implementation of the NPOA. PROFESSOR OSMAN GBLA EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, APRM NATIONAL GOVERNING COUNCIL 10 APRM Sierra Leone | Annual Progress Report