Sierra Leone

Summary of country programme

UN Women’s Sierra Leone Strategic Note 2018–2025 acts on gender inequality and women’s empowerment, especially by focusing on regions most affected by poverty, gender-based violence and climate change impacts.

The programme prioritizes economic empowerment, ending violence against women and girls and women's increased political representation. Approaches include establishing gender units in ministries, supporting women's networks, and integrating gender into climate change and disaster response strategies.

Major partners comprise the Ministry of Gender and Children's Affairs, UN entities and local civil society organizations. Strategic Note direct funding supports initiatives such as one-stop centres for survivors of gender-based violence, enhancing programme impact.

Other resources (non-core)

Country Indexes

UN Women in action: Strategic insights and achievements

View annual report narratives for the year

Advancing SDGs: UN Women's impact and key achievements

In 2025, UN Women SL CO delivered significant progress in advancing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda across at all levels. These achievements directly contributed to SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) by strengthening women’s leadership and participation in governance and peacebuilding, and enhancing protection mechanisms in conflict?affected areas.
Through targeted interventions, UN Women improved coordination, cohesion, and leadership among women?focused CSOs, resulting in increased women’s participation in peacebuilding processes, local governance systems, and community?level dispute resolution structures. Institutional and community resilience in conflict?affected districts was strengthened, ensuring that women’s voices increasingly shaped national policy dialogue and influenced regional peace and security frameworks.
A major enabler of this progress was the consolidation and capacity strengthening of a women?focused CSO coalition. UN Women’s technical and organizational support enhanced collaboration, networking, information?sharing and effective engagement among 150 CSOs from 59% in 2024 to 72.2% in 2025. The strengthened coalition is now widely recognized as a key national actor in advocating for women’s rights, contributing to peacebuilding initiatives, and expanding protective spaces for women and girls through coordinated advocacy and community?level action.
Further impact was evidenced through CSO leadership in the development, and launching, and rolling out of the NAP III for the implementation of UNSCR 1325 and related frameworks, including Beijing+30, CEDAW, and the GEWE Act. Engagement of CSOs and women’s groups in peace and security processes became more systematic and strategic. UN Women also deepened engagement with traditional authorities through extensive awareness?raising and popularization of GEWE Act. These efforts catalyzed tangible shifts in gender norms, including the appointment of a female Town Chief and the inclusion of two female jurors in ocal Courts, roles previously restricted to men, a historic shift in women’s participation in customary justice structures.
The CSO Coalition applied skills from capacity?building initiatives to conduct policy advocacies and grassroots outreach on the gender frameworks, enabled local women to successfully negotiate access to land to establish a marketplace and increased influence in local decision?making. Additionally Paramount Chief and local authorities further agreed to integrate female in prominent decision marking bodies,
Beyond national influence, the WPS coalition expanded its reach through regional engagement with active participation in regional Working Groups on WPs which strengthened cross?border learning and equipped participants with strategies for anchoring peacebuilding interventions across at all levels. Consequently now emerged as a recognized and influential actor in peacebuilding and women’s rights advocacy.

Advancing SDGs: UN Women's impact and key achievements

In 2024, The CO achieved a significant progress in advancing Women Peace and Security agenda at all levels , contributing to SDG 6 and 16 (targets 16.1, .3, .7) SDG5 (targets 5.1. 2). Through Peace Building Funds, the “PBF/IRF-504: Localizing for change: Positioning women’s Civil Society Organizations for effective implementation of the WPS agenda poroject, there is an increased collaboration, networking and communication among 120 CSOs in 6 districts from 59% to 72.2%. UN Women contributed through the establishment of the women-focued CSO coalition, enhancing the skills and capabilities of CSO members in advocating for gender-sensitive policies, contributing to conflict prevention and dispute resolution, policy advocacy and outreach interventions on issues related to the NAP, GEWE Act, Child Rights Act.Addtionally, established coalition has not only been networking within their districts, but also nationally and regionally with other CSOs from the West African and the Sahel region. The coalition members recently took part in the regional annual working group session on the women youth peace and Security hosted in the country with representatives from Benin, Burkina-Faso, Chad, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

Advancing SDGs: UN Women's impact and key achievements

Under the framework of the sustainable Development Goals, the UN Women Sierra Leone Country Office (CO) strategic Note is in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2020-2024), UN Women’s Global Strategic Plan (2022-2025), and Government of Sierra Leone’s development agenda. UN Women directly coontributes to SDG 5 - Gender Equality. In 2023, following the enactment of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act 2022 and the Public Elections Act 2022 which provided an opportunity to amplify the number of women in the legislature and the executive arm of Government, the participation of women in leadership positions and their engagement in political, economic, and public life have significantly improved in sierra leone. The proportion of women's representation in the National Parliament and Local Councils increased to 30.4 percent and 34 percent respectively in the 2023 general elections and more women appointed to cabinet positions (31.25 per cent) which is above the government of sierra leone regulatory threshold set in the GEWEAct, contributed to the attainment of SDG 5 - Gender Equality and UNSDCF Outcome area 2 Transformational Governance. UN Women is a key contributor of these achievements through its coordination leadership and interventions in strengthening women’s political leadership in Sierra Leone - UN Women engaged stakeholders in raising awareness on women's leadership and political participation nationwide, enhanced the capacity of 350 women candidates in campaign strategy, communication & coaching and provided them with adequate tools which enabled them to deliver effective campaigns in the 2023 general elections. In addition, UN Women helped develop a corps of transformative female and male leaders and strengthened national institutional capacities to promote gender equality, women’s empowerment and women’s leadership. Lessons learned sessions were held in 5 Regions where the female aspirants and candidates shared what worked well, areas they could improve on and how UN Women’s interventions helped build their confidence and self-esteem. Trained 35 women political leaders from the All-Political Parties’ Association (APPWA) in transformative leadership and raised awareness on GEWE Act which have amplified voices of women, build bridges across parties and as well fostered peace and national cohesion. Strengthened the capacities of Government officials (namely Election Commission in Sierra Leone and the Political Parties Regulation Commission), civil society organizations and women’s networks to promote women and girls’ leadership and political participation.

Advancing SDGs: UN Women's impact and key achievements

The Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act 2022 amongst other things call for 30% quota for women in decision making positions, financial inclusion for women, gender responsive budgeting and paid maternity leave for 14 weeks among other. The Act contribute towards achieving SDG 5 Goal (Indicator 5.1.1, 5.5.1, 5.5.2 , 5a.1 , 5.a.2 and 5 c.1) as well as the UNDSCF outcome2 and 4. Currently there are only 12.3% women in Parliament and 19% at the local council. Lobbying and advocacy supported by the CO in partnership with the Ministry of Gender, CSOs and women’s groups resulted in increased knowledge and of the Bill resulting as well as commitments from relevant community members various media platforms were used to educate and sensitize people on the content of the Bill. 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 (2,500) 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 LeoneThrough it’s engagement with the Media a guide was developed to support the popularization of the GEWE bill.

Levying on its coordination mandate, the CO engaged the services of a team of two prominent female experts to coordinate and consolidate documentation of statements, comments and recommendations that are being produced across the country on the GEWE Bill. The policy papers were used as a tool to engage the UN Gender Theme Group and Development Partners to coordinate resources and messaging of the content of the bill. Strategic Partnership with the Speaker of Parliament, the Female Parliamentary Caucus and the Legislative Committee resulted in CO providing technical inputs in reviewing the GEWE Bill drawn from examples in the sub region. The CO used the HeForShe Strategy for increased commitment of male parliamentarians to gender equality and women’s empowerment in favor of the bill. The passing of the GEWE Act makes Sierra Leone the first anglophone West African nation to have a quota law.

Results and resources

Results overview
Total resources
Development results and resources
Organizational results and resources

Outcomes (aligned with interagency frameworks)

SLE_D_1.3

Women and girls in conflict and humanitarian situation as well as those excluded from governance are protected and provided with tools, access to services, goods and resources to build resilience and to lead.

SLE_D_1.3.1

Increased women's participation in governance through Institutions, Communities and civil society contribution using advocacy, social norm change and law reforms.

SLE_D_1.4

Gender coordination strengthen through dialogue, production, analysis and use of gender statistics as well as sex disaggregated data for improved programming and financing for gender equality

SLE_D_1.4.1

UNCT and Development Partners Cordinated to promote accountability for the implementation of gender equality commitments in Sierra Leone

SLE_D_2.3

Gender transformative programmes including men and boys engagement are promoted to influence positive gender norms on governance, economic empowerment and on ending violence against women and girls.

SLE_D_2.3.1

Capacity of local authorities, women’s and community groups enhanced to develop comprehensive interventions for prevention and response to EVAWG

SLE_D_1.5

SLE_D_1.5.1

Increased women's participation in governance through Institutions, Communities and civil society contribution using advocacy, social norm change and law reforms.

SLE_D_1.5.1

Democratic institutions are inclusive and the representation of women, young persons, and persons with disabilities in elected offices is institutionalized.

SLE_D_1.5.2

Gender coordination strengthen through dialogue and context analysis for improved programming and financing for gender equality

SLE_D_1.5.3

Women focused CSOs Coalition are coordinated and have the requisite capacity to promote women participation in politics and peace building in Sierra Leone

SLE_D_1.5.4

Effectively implements, and monitor the National Action Plan for UNSCR1325

SLE_D_1.6

1.5.2 Gender coordination strengthen through dialogue, production and analysis for improved programming and financing for gender equality

SLE_D_1.6.1

UNCT and Development Partners Coordinated to promote accountability for the implementation of gender equality commitments within MDAs in Sierra Leone

SLE_D_1.6.1

Relevant MDAs, private sector and civil society contribute to the implementation of the GEWE Acts through gender mainstreaming.

SLE_D_2.4

Gender transformative programmes including men and boys engagement are promoted to influence positive gender norms on governance, economic empowerment and on ending violence against women and girls.

SLE_D_2.4.1

2.3.1Capacity of National and district institutions, local authorities, women’s and community groups enhanced to develop comprehensive interventions for prevention and response to EVAWG

SLE_D_2.4.1

Output 3.3 Women and girls in their intersectionality benefit from increased access to prevention, protection services related to GBV, and other harmful practices (child marriage, FGM, child labour, trafficking)

SLE_D_3.3

Outcome 4: Women's equitable access to services, goods and resources

SLE_D_3.3.1

More gender-responsive models for increasing fiscal space and public investments in services and infrastructure

SLE_D_3.3.1

Output 1.2 Women have increased access to land and other natural resources (forests, minerals, marine, wetlands, etc.) and can utilize in a sustainable manner.

SLE_D_1.10

SN Outcome 3 (CF outcome 3): People in Sierra Leone enjoy transparent and accountable governance systems and economic transformation that guarantee peace, rights, and social cohesion, particularly among youth, women, marginalised and vulnerable groups.

SLE_D_1.10.1

SN Output 3.1: Democratic institutions are strengthened to be gender responsive, transparent, inclusive with increased representation and participation of women, young women, vulnerable women including women living with disabilities across all sectors

SLE_D_1.10.2

SN Output 3.2: Increased government’s capacity to effectively implements, monitors and reports gender policies and regulatory frameworks in line with regional and global gender commitments (UNSCR1325, Beijing platform for action, CEDAW, VAW, CSWs, SDG 5)

SLE_D_1.10.3

Output 3.3 Women, young women, vulnerable women including women living with disabilities have increased capacity to participate, contribute to, and have influence in building sustainable peace and resilience and benefit equally from the prevention of conflicts and disasters

SLE_D_1.10.4

SN Output 3.4: National and Local governance institutions are strengthened to increase financing for gender equality and allocation of resources (GRB) for gender mainstreaming, Ending Violence Against Women and Girls and promoting women in peace and security.

SLE_D_1.11

SN Outcome 4 (Global SP Outcome 7): The UN system and relevant stakeholders (i.e., government, civil society, development partners and private sector) coherently and systematically contributes to progress on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

SLE_D_1.11.1

SN Output 4.1: Strengthened UN capacity for GEWE and mainstream gender equality perspectives and LNOB in the UNSDCF and implementation and reporting.

SLE_D_1.11.2

SN Output 4.2: Relevant MDAs, private sector, and civil society implements Gender Accountability Framework for the GEWE Act 2022.

SLE_D_1.11.3

SN Output 4.3: Strengthened partnerships and commitments with development and private sector partners for the implementation of GEWE including Generation Equality Forum (GEF) Commitments

SLE_D_1.8

SN Outcome 1 (CF Outcome 1): People in Sierra Leone, especially the most vulnerable, are food and nutrition secure, benefit from effective natural resource management, are resilient to the effects of climate change, and equipped to prevent and respond to disasters.

SLE_D_1.8.1

SN Output 1.1: Women, young women, women with disabilities, youth, and other vulnerable women farmer groups, have increased knowledge of the customary Land Rights Act, access and ownership to land and other natural resources, access to climate smart technology, financial services, linkage to markets, technologies, and innovations.

SLE_D_1.8.2

SN Output 1.2: Government at all levels has strengthened capacity to implement gender responsive policies, prevention, preparedness, early warning, and response systems to mitigate the impact of environmental, climate change and other disasters that support women for sustainable blue and green economy, contributing to food security.

SLE_D_1.8.3

SN Output 1.3: Women in agrobusiness adopt waste management (using 4R approach: reduce, reuse, recycle and recover), clean energy, decarbonization and climate smart agricultural value chain.

SLE_D_1.9

SN Outcome 2 (CF Outcome 2): People in Sierra Leone, particularly most vulnerable groups in rural and hard-to-reach areas, have equitable access to quality, gender responsive essential and social protection services and decent job opportunities

SLE_D_1.9.1

SN Output 2.1: Gender responsive and inclusive Legal, policy and regulatory frameworks on clean energy, decent jobs, innovation, infrastructure, and the protection of the rights of women, young women, vulnerable women including women living with disabilities are further developed, promoted, and implemented.

SLE_D_1.9.2

SN Output 2.2: Women, young women, vulnerable women including women living with disabilities have increased access to, and use of, quality essential and social protection services which are participatory, gender-responsive and inclusive, including during emergencies.

SLE_D_1.9.3

SN Output 2.3: Women, young women, vulnerable women including women living with disabilities have improved entrepreneurial and financial literacy, and employability.

SLE_D_1.9.4

SN Output 2.4: Gender statistics, sex-disaggregated data and knowledge are produced, analyzed, and used to inform policymaking, advocacy, and accountability for delivering gender equality and women's empowerment results.

Organizational effectiveness and efficiency

SLE_O_1

Assuring an accountable organization through principled performance

SLE_O_2

Advancing business transformation.

SLE_O_3

Nurturing an empowered workforce and advancing an inclusive UN-Women culture

SLE_O_4

Effective normative, programmatic and coordination products, services and processes

SLE_O_5

Increase engagement of partners in support of UN W mandate and financing of the GEWE agenda

Download data

CSV PDF

Download data

CSV PDF

Budget

Expenses

Outcome Result statement IATI identifier

OutcomeSLE_D_1.10

Outcome result statementWomen Leadership, Governance and Political Participation & Women Peace and Security

IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-SLE_D_1.10

	2022
China	$14,541 2022 ChinaGovernment Total contribution:$14,541 Development:$14,541(100%) Humanitarian:$0(0%)
Ireland	$406,938 2022 IrelandOECD-DAC donor Total contribution:$406,938 Development:$37,500(9%) Humanitarian:$369,438(91%)
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS)	$50,000 2022 Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS)United Nations organization Total contribution:$50,000 Development:$50,000(100%) Humanitarian:$0(0%)
Netherlands National Committee	$122,171 2022 Netherlands National CommitteeNational Committee Total contribution:$122,171 Development:$122,171(100%) Humanitarian:$0(0%)
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)	$324,000 2022 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)United Nations organization Total contribution:$324,000 Development:$324,000(100%) Humanitarian:$0(0%)
United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office	$368,041 2022 United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund OfficeUnited Nations pooled fund Total contribution:$368,041 Development:$0(0%) Humanitarian:$368,041(100%)

Summary of country programme

UN Women in action: Strategic insights and achievements

Results and resources

Resources allocated towards SDGs

Our funding partners contributions

Strategic plan contributions

Results stories

Empowering change and fighting Gender-Based Violence in Sierra Leone

Interview with Hawa Yokie on youth-led innovation in Sierra Leone