The News Review:

- Sierra Leone: Peace Building Funds Shrink
- Sierra Leone: World Bank Director Visits Salone Today
- Sierra Leone: NAS Urges HARA to Increase its Roles
- President Koroma to Launch Coalition Against AIDS in Sierra Leone
- United Nations Supports Sierra Leone First Lady Sia
- Awareness Times News Briefs from Sierra Leone
- Oversight Committees Schooled on Public Finance in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone: Peace Building Funds Shrink
AllAfrica.com, Washington 
Vandi Minah, however, noted that the problem of resource unpredictability was still critical, saying the secretary-general’s initial allocation of $35 million from the Peacebuilding Fund in March 2007 had been exhausted. GA_googleFillSlot(“AllAfrica_Story_Inset”); He noted that the Commission’s engagement in Sierra Leone, as one of the pioneer beneficiaries, had had a positive impact on the government’s peacebuilding efforts. The range of bilateral and multilateral interventions intended to support projects in promoting democracy, good governance, the energy sector, justice and security reform, youth employment and empowerment continued to show promising signs of consolidating peace in the country. It could be recalled that the country requested its partners to scale up their assistance to the resource-mobilization drive launched at high-level stakeholder meetings in May, in order to expedite implementation of the Sierra Leone Cooperation Framework.
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Sierra Leone: World Bank Director Visits Salone Today
AllAfrica.com, Washington 
FreetownWorld Bank director of strategy and operations Colin Bruce is due in Freetown today to discuss with President Koroma’s government on priority development assistance issues in the frame of the country’s new poverty reduction strategy. The expert would also engage government official on preparation and possible avenues and areas of World Bank assistance priorities in support of the process. GA_googleFillSlot(“AllAfrica_Story_Inset”); Bruce’s visit coincides with Sierra Leone’s preparation of a new PRSP which, when completed and put into operation, is expected to help move Sierra Leone out of post-conflict station. At this time also, the World Bank preparing a new Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) to be aligned to the new PRSP. This will inform Bruce’s meetings with President Ernest Koroma and finance and development minister, David Carew. Bruce will also interact with local councils and project beneficiaries in the field to get a feel of progress in the country’s decentralization process towards which the World Bank has been contributing. Provision will also be made for Bruce to meet the donor community, the World Bank Country office staff and project staff.

Sierra Leone: NAS Urges HARA to Increase its Roles
AllAfrica.com, Washington 
Dr Brima Kargbo made this statement at the inauguration and stakeholders meeting of HARA at the ministry of health and sanitation conference hall Youyi building Freetown. “One of the most oblivious roles of the media is to open channels of communication and foster discussion about HIV and interpersonal relationship. Mass media can be instrument in breaking the silence that surrounds the disease, “”We encourage HARA to focus on the need to overcome prejudice and encourage solidarity with people who are infected and affected by the virus,” he said.

President Koroma to Launch Coalition Against AIDS in Sierra Leone
Awareness Times, Sierra Leone 
Addressing journalists at a press conference held at the National Aids Secretariat (NAS) Conference Room, Mohamed Sandi says it is very important to bring business people on board in the fight against the pandemic. I am happy that Sierra Leone is now on board,” he stated. He lauded efforts so far made by private institutions like Standard Chartered Bank in complementing NAS.

United Nations Supports Sierra Leone First Lady Sia
Awareness Times, Sierra Leone 
He expressed hope that the United Nations package would aid the office of the First Lady to promote WISH and her advocacy on reducing the high rate of Infant maternal mortality. Sia Nyama Koroma thanked the ERSG for the interest shown by the UN family to promote the welfare of women and children in Sierra Leone. The dynamic First Lady also praised the offer by the UN to expand their offices in the provinces. Against this background the First Lady intimated that the ERSG could always count on her support for the Programme of the United Nations in Sierra Leone. Sia Koroma, the most highly educated First Lady that Sierra Leone has ever been privileged to have, has comported herself in a remarkable manner over the last 13 months since her husband was elected as President of the country. © Copyright by Awareness Times Newspaper in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Awareness Times News Briefs from Sierra Leone
Awareness Times, Sierra Leone 
It also states that all western military and intelligence agencies must cease operations and withdrawn with immediate effect. It calls for all Africans both at home to unite concertedly to oppose the United States and any neocolonial African government that supports the deployment of Africom or any other US military force on the continent. World Bank Director To Visit Sierra LeoneReports have it that the World Bank Director of Strategy and Operations, Mr. Colin Bruce will today, Tuesday 28th October 2008 arrive in Sierra Leone on a three day working visit. During his visit, he is expected to discuss with the President and other top government officials priority development assistant issues in the frame of the country’s new Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) preparation and possible avenues and areas of World Bank assistance in support of the process. Reports further state that the World Bank is currently preparing a new Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) to be aligned to the PRSP for 2012. Concern Raised Over Polluted WaterDirector General of the Sierra Water Company (SALWACO), Philip K.

Oversight Committees Schooled on Public Finance in Sierra Leone
Awareness Times, Sierra Leone 
1, House of Parliament, Tower Hill in Freetown. The seminar was organized by the Department for International Development (DfID) and Audit Service-Sierra Leone. In his opening remarks, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Chukuma Johnson thanked the organizers for what he referred to as a timely programme for Members of Parliament. He said the financial control seminar would help MPs in the two oversight committees to plan well for the betterment of Sierra Leone. In his presentation, DfID Consultant, Phill Duncombe talked about the projections and structures of public internal financial control.