Outcome SLE_O_2

Advancing partnerships and resourcing

UN Women CO strengthened partnerships across the government, private and CSOs. Successfully mobilizing, managing partnerships and resources to finance the full implementation of its SN 2025 - 2030 as a priority, and on the other, convening partnerships and influencing resource flows in support of the wider GEWE mandate as a second priority. In 2024, UN Women mobilised funds from ELSIE initiative to increase female participate in peace missions, PBF secretariat funds, Spotlight initiative and Irish Aid. The CO scaled up it strategic communications and advocacy initiatives to reach out to donor and mobilise resources respectively to widen UN Women’s circle of influence to reach a broader range of actors and ensure that UN Women drives the global conversation on GEWE.

Advancing partnerships and resourcing

UN Women partner, SLAWIJ, produced an animation video to promote equal participation in the 2023 elections as well as stop discrimination and violence against women during elections. The animation video was disseminated using various platforms, including social and traditional media, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc. The video was also aired on the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) and displayed in public places, using LED vehicle that moved to various locations within Freetown with huge crowds like markets, busy streets, and bus stops. The estimated audience that follows the SLBC nationwide is 75% of the adult population in the country. Online views are estimated per program at about 300 to 500 viewers. The social media post continues to receive attention post-election period.n Feedback from the LED display suggest that the majority of people below the poverty line, hardly have access to electricity to view the ads on the Television, one viewer said, “This is better than television if it was on TV, I will never see it, in fact, we spend more time outside than at home.”Another jumped in: “Even radio, who has the time, you should continue this one, it is very attractive.” Those statement received an affirmative response from majority of people gathered, including women, men and youths. Social media flyers were designed and shared widely on social media. The flyers called for nonviolence against women in elections and target electoral stakeholders, particularly political parties, and the public to support women political participation.

UN Women Sierra Leone has the capacity in place to enable an effective and strategic response to national demands for gender equality.

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.