Outcome 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

Under this reporting phase, the Country Office achieved progress in strengthening women’s land rights and reducing vulnerabilities to gender-based violence. Through targeted community engagement, the CO enhanced understanding of the Customary Land Rights Act (2022) and facilitated in-depth dialogues examining attitudes, beliefs, and social norms that restrict women’s access to land and their participation in natural resource management structures. These conversations also highlighted the linkages between discriminatory land practices and women’s exposure to gender-based violence. As a result of these efforts, 40 women’s groups were trained to monitor and report on progress, leading to the development of 250 community action plans—of which 230 were successfully implemented. Women’s groups reported increased openness among traditional authorities to support women’s land claims, including cases where widows were granted access to their deceased husbands’ property, signaling a notable shift in customary practices. Progress was also made in strengthening the quality and consistency of survivor-centered SGBV services in four districts. The CO implemented interventions to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of One Stop Centre (OSC) staff and frontline service providers by addressing gaps identified in the May 2024 assessment. The initiative focused on improving technical capacity on GBV Minimum Standards to ensure services align with international best practices. Training interventions built staff competence, while case study discussions helped expose and challenge persistent myths and norms that negatively affect survivors’ access to justice and care. Safe spaces facilitated critical reflection on how societal attitudes influence professional behavior, and follow-up monitoring visits confirmed measurable improvements in staff attitudes and service delivery practices. Furthermore, community-level prevention efforts intensified through the leadership of four District SGBV Steering Committees. These committees led eight targeted campaigns and grassroots engagements aimed at confronting persistent SGBV challenges in collaboration with government actors, civil society, and a wide range of stakeholders. The campaigns resulted in widespread community education and shifts in public attitudes, stronger partnerships between local authorities and development actors, and the active involvement of youth as agents of social transformation. Legal literacy initiatives also improved understanding and enforcement of national SGBV protocols. More than 250,000 community members directly benefited from these efforts. District actors are now demonstrating increased commitment to joint initiatives that strengthen community monitoring, reporting, and referral systems, while building more sustainable structures for long-term protection and justice.