Dr. Sao-Kpato Hannah Isatta Max-Kyne was appointed the first Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation in Sierra Leone in July 2023, a position she currently holds. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and History from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone; a Master of Science in Sociology and Anthropology from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria; and an MBA from the University of Maryland, USA. In 2024, she earned a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B. Hons) from Fourah Bay College and holds a PhD in Public Policy and Development (African Studies) from Howard University, Washington DC.
She has lectured at Fourah Bay College, the Institute of Public Administration and Management, Njala University, and the University of Liberia at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Dr. Max-Kyne has served as a research consultant on numerous development, public policy, and poverty reduction projects commissioned by the Government of Sierra Leone, the World Bank, UN agencies, FCDO, and various international and national NGOs.
As a development expert, she coordinated the Urban WASH Consortium at Oxfam GB, worked as a Poverty and Decentralization Expert with ENCISS/CARE UK, and contributed to Sierra Leone’s first Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper. She later served as Assistant Director General of Policy and Technical Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Prior to her ministerial appointment, Dr. Max-Kyne was Commissioner of the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA).
