Hon Nabeela Farida Tunis | Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

Biography

Hon Nabeela Farida Tunis is the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Sierra Leone. Minister Tunis has vast experience in Development Management, Diplomacy, Political Analysis and Governance, Conflict Prevention and Mediation, Gender Analysis and Mainstreaming, Environmental Governance and Human Rights issues.

Prior to her appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Madam Tunis served as Minister in the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), immediately after it was separated from the Ministry of Finance. During her tenure (May 2018-May 2019), she structured the Ministry and positioned it as a viable entity to deliver on an expanded mandate. At MoPED, Minister Tunis provided exemplary leadership and strategic direction in the production of several policy documents including Sierra Leone’s Medium-Term National Development Plan 2019-2023, the Sierra Leone’s Development Cooperation Framework and the Population Policy.

Furthermore, Minister Tunis was pivotal in coordinating Development Partners and Non-Governmental Organizations around the development priorities identified by the government and people of Sierra Leone. She also served as the Chair of the g7+ Group of Fragile and Conflict Affected states and Co-Chaired the International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and State building.
Prior to her appointment as Minister in 2018, Minister Tunis excelled and distinguished herself at the United Nations in various capacities. Minister Tunis served as a Senior National Officer within the United Nations Integrated Office in Sierra Leone and later at the United Nations Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone. While serving the United Nations, Minister Tunis championed women empowerment issues, child protection issues, youth empowerment issues, and good governance. She was pivotal in the formation and institutionalization of cross Political Party Associations including the All Political Parties Youth Association and All Political Parties Women’s Association.

Minister Tunis was Co-Founder and Program Manager of Women’s Network for Environmental Sustainability (WoNES). She has been a strong voice in promoting gender equality, inclusive growth, development and environmental protection at both national and international fora.

Minister Tunis holds a Master’s degree in Rural Development and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and English from the University of Sierra Leone. She has several postgraduate certificates in Peacebuilding, Conflict Analysis and Management, Environmental Governance, Gender and Human Rights.

Minister Tunis is recognized for delivering an inclusive, participatory and transformative national development plan as well as transforming a new Ministry, with weak systems and capacity gaps, into a formidable state institution, which is currently central in the coordination of Sierra Leone’s development processes. She is married with three kids.

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