Planned Budget (Total)
Other resources (non-core)
Country Indexes
outcome XM-DAC-41146-SLE_D_1.5
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.
The Localization and working together for peace programme is ensuring women and girls are protected, access to services and goods. In 2024, The programme contributed to peacebuilding results under the framework of the sustainable development goals. The project contributed to the peaceful and inclusive general elections in 2023. This was achieved through mitigating conflict by reaching 211,064 people through Facebook, twitter YouTube, community markets, and public places with peace messages. This was done by developing and sharing videos, jingles, and radio discussion programs in Bombali, Karene, Pujehun Western Area Urban and rural. 800 individuals including students, stakeholders, and CSOs, were reached in Pujehun districts while 1000 community leaders were engaged in peace march advocating against the use drugs and other harmful substance especially on youth and women in Bombali. Additionally, the Women Focused CSO coalition has conducted joint advocacy and campaign in addressing issues that could spark violence in their various districts. The district level interventions influenced non-violent conflict resolution promoting peaceful coexistence and social cohesion. Coalition members have also been raising awareness about the National Unity agreement thus contributing to demystifying false information and growing tensions in communities. The women focused CSOs are playing significant role in providing recommendations and advocating for cyber bulling hate speech and misinformation in their communities for inclusive, transparent, and accountable governance processes at all levels. Further contributions have been archived through the inclusive and participatory process in the consultation and finalization of the National Action Plan (NAP III) for the implementation of UNSCR 1325. The project has contributed significantly to the increased female representation in parliament from 14.5% to 30.4% and in local council from 19% to 34% during the 2023 general elections which has amplified the voices of women. This has led to increased urgency, confidence, and assertiveness among women in governance processes as more women enhance their willingness to take up decision making positions. In addition, further support has been provided to the female parliamentary caucus to foster inter and intra party cooperation and dialogue in promoting gender equility and women’s empowerment at the ligislative level. There has been an increase in positive attitudes and perceptions towards women’s leadership thus promoting women’s participation in governance processes. Successful candidates are serving as role models, inspiring other women in the various districts to aspire for political positions. The district CSO coalition jointly organised high level stakeholder engagements with peace institutions, community peace promoters and government stakeholders in promoting peace and cohesion at district level in commemoration of the International Peace Day. Coalition members are now collaborating and being part of the CSO peace group in coordination with the Peace Commision at local level, same have been apply at national and regional by contributing to a regional working group session on the women youth peace security agenda in the region of which local CSO groups have been incorporated as members
outcome XM-DAC-41146-SLE_D_1.6
The UN system and relevant stakeholders (i.e., government, civil society, development partners and private sector) engage in effective coordination to advance the GEWE agenda in Sierra Leone
The UN GiM Partnership for Gender Mainstreaming in Government Ministries, Departments initiative engendered 30 ministries which increased women's electives and appoitments positions in governance, revised policies to incorporate Maternal issues in RSLAF and other institutions. The UN GiM Partnership for Gender Mainstreaming was at the forefront of strengthening legal frameworks in Sierra Leone including influencing the enactment of the GEWE Act 2022 to address gender imbalances through 30% quota representation of women in public, private sector employment and leadership positions. The programme emphasized the need for affirmative actions and dedicated resources to integrate gender considerations into public and private service delivery which encompasses establishing minimum standards to address discriminatory practices, gender-biased programming, gender-blind budgeting, capacity gaps, and any other obstacles that impede women and girls' engagement in public life for the achievement of gender Equality and women’s empowerment in all spheres of development in Sierra Leone. As mandated by the GEWE Act 2022, UN Women established Gender Units in all 30 ministries within their Planning Directorate to ensure gender transformative planning, budgeting, and decision-making processes at the institutional level. Additionally, the initiative, through MOGCA established a Gender Steering Committee which oversee the functions of the gender offices. UN Women further strengthened the capacity of gender officers, representatives of the gender steering committes (director level) and as well supported to conduct preliminary assessments of their respective ministries and develop action plans for gender mainstreaming as directed by the GEWE Act 2022. The UN GiM partnership effectively coordinates, in collaboration with the MoGCA, and on behalf of the UN member agencies, with government and implementing partners to build and enhance institutional capacities for supporting the implementation of the GEWE Policy and GEWE Act 2022. UN GiM Partnership has laid the foundation for gender mainstreaming and strengthened relationships with stakeholders to promote gender-sensitive commitments, law enforcement, and mainstreaming gender issues into policies as well providing access to tools for effective implementation of gender policies and legislation. The partnership’s community engagement initiatives, involving MDAs, civil society organizations (CSOs), the private sector, and women leaders, played a pivotal role in achieving a legislative milestone that mandates 30% representation of women in public, private sector employment and leadership positions. Additionally, widespread community advocacy efforts have raised awareness of the GEWE Act, engaging Paramount Chiefs, religious leaders, and grassroots groups to shift social norms. The HeForShe campaign has mobilized male leaders to support women’s rights initiatives, further amplifying community-led efforts for gender equality Additionally, the GiM initiative engaged over 2,000 students across four districts in discussions on gender equality. It has also leveraged UN Women’s Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) program to collaborate with 50 private sector companies, supporting their readiness to implement the GEWE Act and promote gender parity and women’s empowerment within their operations. These companies have made committment to incorporate gender issues into their programme.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-SLE_D_2.4
The most vulnerable, particularly women, youth, adolescents and children (especially girls), and persons living with disabilities are empowered and benefit from increased social protection services, economic and social opportunities including those with disability
In 2024, a total of 368 SGBV survivors benefited from varied case management support including psychosocial counseling, medical examination, legal advice and broader accompaniment of survivors through the referral pathways. This was achieved through strengthening the operationalization of the 7 One Stop Centers (including providing institutional, financial and logistical support) through the ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs. Furthermore, UN Women increased the capacity of the 49 Frontline Service Providers on national and International SGBV frameworks and guidelines, including handling disclosure, International SGBV response principles, Risk management, National Referral Protocol, Child Protection, safeguarding and Psychosocial Support Services and provision of wellness tools. Moreover, 120 paramount chiefs across the country created spaces for dialogue on gendered social norms and establish community structures to address SGBV including creating gender sensitive community-based action plans in ten (10) communities through UN Women’s capacity strengthening and engagement with the paramount chiefs on the GEWE Act, Sexual offences act, gender justice laws, social norms and myths on women’s leadership including supporting referrals, accompaniment and providing safety nets for survivors. Also, 400 members of SGBV community structures across the one-stop centers have increased capacity on SGBV prevention and response including the referral pathways. UN Women is currently strengthening community mechanisms for SGBV prevention and response including community laws on SGBV prevention and response in 7 districts and establishing SGBV Steering Committee structures where there were hitherto none in existence, enabling them to monitor, refer, report and document SGBV cases. These mechanisms have also created safe spaces for interrogating social norms in their communities and established a strong alliance with the district councils through improved coordination. Stakeholders have committed to provide support to survivors from various home-grown funds including transportation refunds, skills training and foster care especially for survivors from hard-to-reach communities. The local capacity building initiatives have sustained an enabling safe space through a paradigm shift from ad hoc and activity centered actions to a results-based approach.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-SLE_D_3.3
Sierra Leone benefits from a more productive, commercialized and sustainable agriculture, improved food and nutrition security, and increased resilience to climate change and other shocks
The CO investment in WEE intervention in hard to reach areas resulted to an increase in agricultural yields by 40% for 1020 women farmers living in hard-to-reach communities, and enhanced resilience to climate shocks and challenges posed by erratic weather patterns in the hard-to-reach communities. The investment supports rural farmers on sustainable climate-smart agriculture, improve their seedling varieties, provide access to farming lands, solar-powered irrigation systems, mechanized tools, fostered market linkages to profitable businesses for women farmers in the rural areas and strengthened capacity of farmers on sustainable farming practices in the concerned value chains (e.g.: rice, cassava, maize, onion, orange flesh potato, and palm oil). UN Women is promoting women’s business centers, a digital application, the “Women’s Digital Market Square” for women-owned businesses to showcase their products, network with customers, and have access to adaptive resources and profitable markets ( https://www.unwomenmarketsquare.org/home ).
outcome XM-DAC-41146-SLE_O_1
Assuring an accountable organization through principled performance
Overall, significant progress was made on some of the indicators under this output. For example, the delivery rate for regular and IB resources improved significantly from 60% in 2023 to 78% in 2024. There was a decline in the delivery of non-core resources from 76% in 2023 to 54% in 2024. Whilst some factors have been attributted to late disbursement of funds by donors from the time agreements are signed, this will be a key agenda item for the first meeting in 2025. Collectively, we will discuss on strategies on how to address the poor delivery on non-core resources for 2025. Also, the team was able to complete the Risk Register and also had the mid year quality assurance done. This was however done late as the country office was developing its Strategic Note. it was advised that the risk register be submitted to HQ for quality assurance as part of the SN risk register review process. The end date for some of the risks were reviewed and also risk mitigating actions chnaged for some risk elements as well as risk owners for some of the risks. The country office was also compliant with the Business continuity plans as well as other processes. The Continuity plan was updated by testing all the protocols. The office was also compliant with the review and updates of the Security Safety and Compliance procedures. Other security procedures such as security clearance for all official travels, security briefings were all enforced in line with corporate procedures. As a way of developing the capacity of partner staff, trainings in financial managmnet, procurement and asset were conducted in 5 districts targeting 2 staff (Finance and Program) for 20 CSOs in the five districts. A total of 100 partner staff were trained for 2 days on the above subject areas. The CO operations staff regularly participates at the UN OMT meetings, finance group meeting, common service meeting. If the primary member cannot attend, alternatives are sent for to represent UN Women where possible.Showing 1 - 5 of 9