Planned Budget (Total)
Other resources (non-core)
Country Indexes
outcome XM-DAC-41146-SLE_D_1.1
Gender responsive measures (mechanisms, processes and services) promote women’s leadership and participation in Governance, decision making and women's access to justice.
The Women Political Participation with funding from UN Women HQ/SIDA was developed to build on previous projects and processes aimed at supporting women’s access to elective positions and promoting women’s leadership and eliminating violence against women in politics with special focus on the development of a new project document and to support the new electoral legal reforms. The two focus areas of the project were achieved; a new project prodoc has been developed but a few modifications are being undertaken currently to address emerging issues not earlier articulated. The support for a new electoral legal reform was undertaken; financial and technical support were provided for the review and presentation of the Gender Empowerment Bill 2021 to Parliament through the minister of Gender with support from several Development Partners including Civil Society Organisations, Women and youth groups, and partners. The bill was massively popularised at national and districts levels and the bill was presented to the parliament through the ministry of Gender; the Parliament accepted the bill and unilaterally endorsed and allowed the bill to pass the first reading. The bill is now being technically reviewed and preparation for second reading is ongoing. The results recorded by UN Women in collaboration with her implementation partner were made possible because of the strategic nature of the activities ranging from awareness raising, sensitization and training/capacity building, community and media mobilization and advocacies. Through direct in-person townhall meetings, trainings, and workshop with government institutions, CSOs, men and boys’ network, women groups, youth groups and other relevant partners about one thousand and fifty (1,500) persons(about 40% men and 60% women) were reached, through the radio programmes and discussions, about nine hundred thousand persons(900,000) were sensitized about the GEWE bill across several districts and chiefdoms in Sierra Leone, radio organisations which high footprints were engaged to ensure at least 15% population reach. Through Facebooks, Twitters and other the social media post UN Women and her partners have reached hundreds of people and with the additional contents being finalised, millions of people will be reached with through use of multiple handles and sharing. Other qualitative results recorded from the projects included partnerships identified and forged with new partnerships and consolidation of old partnerships. The partnership with the national youth commission, some donor organisations, media owners and personalities, youth groups and organisations working to improve technology have potential to improve UN Women work in 2022 and in the future 1.1 Town Hall Meetings, Radio Discussion Programmes, Jingle productions and Dissemination and Collection of Voice Messages from Young and Women The Town Hall Meetings (THM) were held with district authorities, traditional leaders, CSOs, Women’s groups, political parties, the ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Inter-religious council, local media houses, councillors, the citizens radio programmes and discussion with young women in the four districts areas (Pujehun, Bonthe, Kailaun and Kono). Jingles were also produced to promote the GWE bill, the jingles developed in English were also translated into five different local languages: Mende, Sherbro, Kissi, Kono, and Krio. These activities resulted in increased knowledge and appreciation of the Gender and Empowerment bill, 2021, hundreds of commitments obtained from relevant groups in the four districts to support and popularize the bill using their various platforms and through various actions and Data and evidence obtained to informed future planning and programming for young women interested and willingness to contest in election in Sierra Leone. Inserted herewith is a Photo link from some of the sensitization on the GEWE Bill, 2021 https://bit.ly/31MKOzT . 1.2 Training of Young Men and Women on Coding and Animation Towards GEWE Bill Popularization and Women Political Participation and Ending Violence Against Women in Election and Social Media Engagements 1.2.1 UN Women through the project, selected and trained 80 young women and men (55 Females and 25 Males) in coding, animation, Gender appreciation and advocacy over two weeks and this resulted in the trainees gaining requisite knowledge and skills in coding and animation, requisite knowledge on basic concepts in gender and gender mainstreaming appreciation of the GEWE bill. Several relevant animation videos developed in English and local languages developed to promote the GEWE bill and women political participation and leadership. As a result of the same training, some new partnerships were forged with government agencies, UN Agencies (including Head of Mission), embassies, development partners, women group, and the private sectors. Specific commitment made by the National Youth Commissioner SL to support the youth network formed because of the training; Salone Youth Empowerment Network (SYEAN) to carry out more relevant development in partnership with UN Women going forward. The New Youth network;(SYEAN) within the project cycle worked with UN Women, the Youth Commission to organize a 16 Days of Activism 2021, Multiple stakeholders Meeting which with top government officials from the office of the Vice President, Ministry of Gender and Children Affairs was represented by the Deputy Minister, representatives from other relevant agencies; Social Welfare, Defense, Ministry of State, head of development partners; CSOs, women groups, coordinators and managers of the SGBV One-Stop-Center and others. The meeting resulted in several robust conversations and commitments to end all forms of gender-based violence in Sierra Leone including violence against women in election. Inserted herewith are relevant links from activities; Photo Link from the Coding and Animation Training- <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F31eCEQN&data=04%7C01%7Cpatience.ekeoba%40unwomen.org%7C701f0de622624aaf163808d9be2
outcome XM-DAC-41146-SLE_D_2.1
By 2023, Sierra Leone (particularly women farmers) benefits from a more productive, commercialized and sustainable agriculture, improved food and nutrition security, and increased resilience to climate change and other shocks.
this was not acheived during the period under review . The CO made foundational partnership with CAMSERV to engage women in groundnut farming in the north off Sierra Leone. It is expected that this will be implemented during 2022
outcome XM-DAC-41146-SLE_D_3.1
Institutional, , policy , Legal and regulatory frameworks for the protection of the rights of women and girls are further developed, promoted and implemented
During the period of review the CO supported two additional OSC to ad five exisiting fully operational OSCs in government hospitals . The OSC were established in Mattru GOvernment Hospital and Karene. The OSCs provide holistic services (health, psychosocial support, legal and police services) to survivors of GBV under one roof and free of charge. The free GBV hotline line continues to support the OSSC. To reflect the commitment of the Government to GBV response MoGCA and partners developed and launched the National Strategy for SGBV response.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-SLE_D_3.2
Community behaviours towards women and girls’ rights have changed towards increased understanding and respect of these rights.
As part of the 16 days activism over 8,000 community men and women were sensitized on gender-based violence including end rape sexual abuse through UN Women support. 40 men and women walked 535 miles over a period of 40 day walk to raise awareness on SGBV issues in Sierra Leone. During the period the team were joined by various local non-governmental organisations from the Community of Practice Against Gender Based to raise awareness on Sexual gender Based Violence, the referral pathway of GBV and use of one Stop centres and RAINBO centre to report cases of gender-based violence and for survivors centred care. The messages targeted men, women boys and girls to realise their potential to identify SGBV problems and devise sustainable solutions. In addition, the team were taken to 5 different community radio stations where they engaged with the community during phone in programmes in partnership with local NGOs. The a wareness-raising effort not only called attention to the Presidential declaration of rape and sexual assault as a national emergency by President Bio in 2019, but it also speaks to Goal 5 (gender equality) of the SDGs.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-SLE_D_4.1
National Commiments to WPS are adequately implemented monitored and adapted to changing circumstances.
During the period under review the CO worked closely with the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces to identify barriers against women in the force using Measuring Opportunities for Women in Peace Operations (MOWIP) Methodology and in response to the implementation of UNSCR 1325 A lead national consultant was recruited after a competitive bidding and he has been working on this project since August 2021. (A second Consultant is currently being recruited and will be in place before the end of the year). The lead Consultant’s responsibilities included but are not limited to identifying enumerators and a research assistant who were be charged with the responsibility to undertake field work in collaboration with Cornell and DECAF. The lead Consultant has also worked very closely with RSLAF in identifying locations for the survey and ensuring quality control of enumerators in the field based on recommendations from Cornell University. At the start of the project 10 enumerators were identified however 2 females dropped Out of the team as they secured permanent job, at the start of the Field work 8 Enumerators (2 women and 6 men) administered the questionnaire. Enumerators are graduates and some with Masters degrees. An RSLAF Technical Team was appointed to work alongside the Consultant and the UN Women Team. The technical team comprised of 3 men and 5 women (including personnel from the following ranks: Colonel, Lt Colonels, Majors and Captains). Training of Research Team An essential component of a successful research project is a well-trained research team . Prior to the Field Work a series of training were conducted for the Enumerators. Upon the request of the Director of Gender RSLAF, the RSLAF Technical Team also participated in training in order for them to better under the MOWIP methodology and give effective support to the Survey Implementation. All training was conducted virtually with Cornell University facilitating interactive sessions. The following training sessions were conducted: Introductory Training for Enumerators (August 16th, 17th, and 18 th ) (10 Enumerators (6 male and 4 female) Local Consultant, Research Enumerators and RSLAF Deputy Director of Gender) Introductory Training for RSLAF Technical Working Group and Decision Makers (September 8 th ) (6 female and 6 males) Localization Workshop (Enumerators and RSLAF) (September 21 st and 22 nd ) 8 Enumerators (6 male and 2 female) Local Consultant, Research Enumerators and RSLAF ( 6 female and 6 males) Enumerator Training (October 13 th and 14 th ) 8 Enumerators (6 male and 2 female) Local Consultant, Research Enumerators Pilot Phase (October 26 th and 28 th ) 8 Enumerators (6 male and 2 female) Local Consultant, Research Enumerators Ethical Clearance for the Research It is important to adhere to ethical principles in order to protect the dignity, rights and welfare of research participants. To ensure the Barrier Assessment will be conducted along local and international research principles and promote positive impact of research , UN Women applied for a certificate of clearance from the Office of the Sierra Leone Ethics and Scientific Review Committee. The Ethics Committee which comprises of a team of reviewers including a gender expert reviewed the research proposal and the research tools submitted by UN Women and granted the Agency clearance to commence with the Research. A copy of the Final Report is to be submitted to the Ethics Committee. Data collection and analysis Data Collection commenced on 8 th November. A total of 8 enumerators were recruited and trained in the administration of the survey questions using tablets. Based on lessons learned from other Countries implementing the MOWIP methodology specialized Tablets with were procured by UN Women to facilitate the data collection process. The consultant worked closely with the Programme Specialist at UN Women Cornell University and RSLAF to roll out the administration of survey instruments in Sierra Leone. Series of meetings were undertaken to plan and execute the survey in locations identified by RSLAF. The locations selected included: Freetown iShowing 1 - 5 of 10