Sierra Leone

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.

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.