Region:Asia Pacific
Current UN Women Plan Period Afghanisthan:2018-2022
World Bank Income Classification:Low Income
The World Bank classifies economies for analytical purposes into four income groups: low, lower-middle, upper-middle, and high income. For this purpose it uses gross national income (GNI) per capita data in U.S. dollars, converted from local currency using the World Bank Atlas method, which is applied to smooth exchange rate fluctuations.
Least Developed Country:Yes
Since 1971, the United Nations has recognized LDCs as a category of States that are deemed highly disadvantaged in their development process, for structural, historical and also geographical reasons. Three criteria are used: per capita income, human assets, and economic vulnerability.
Gender Inequality Index:0.575
GII is a composite metric of gender inequality using three dimensions: reproductive health, empowerment and the labour market. A low GII value indicates low inequality between women and men, and vice-versa.
Gender Development Index:0.723
GDI measures gender inequalities in achievement in three basic dimensions of human development: health, education, and command over economic resources.
Population:209,497,025
Source of population data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2022). World Population Prospects: The 2022 Revision
Male:19,976,265 (9.5%)
Female:189,520,760 (90.5%)
outcome XM-DAC-41146-SLE_D_1.1
Gender responsive measures (mechanisms, processes and services) promote women’s leadership and participation in Governance, decision making and women's access to justice.
The Women Political Participation Project with funding from UN Women HQ/SIDA was aimed at supporting women’s access to elective positions, promoting women’s leadership and eliminating violence against women in politics. Under the period of review 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 Organizations, Women and youth groups, and partners. The bill was massively popularized 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. The results recorded by UN Women in collaboration with her implementation partner were made possible because of the strategic nature of the activities ranging from awareness raising, sensitization and training/capacity building, community and media mobilization and advocacies. 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 (1,500) 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 Leone, radio organizations which high footprints were engaged to ensure at least 15% population reach. Through Facebooks, Twitters and other the social media post UN Women and her partners have reached hundreds of people and with the additional contents being finalized, millions of people will be reached with through use of multiple handles and sharing. Other qualitative results recorded from the projects included partnerships identified and forged with new partnerships and consolidation of old partnerships. The partnership with the national youth commission, some donor organizations, media owners and personalities, youth groups and organizations working to improve technology have potential to improve UN Women work in 2022 and in the future Town Hall Meetings, Radio Discussion Programmes, Jingle productions and Dissemination and Collection of Voice Messages from Young and Women The Town Hall Meetings (THM) were held with district authorities, traditional leaders, CSOs, Women’s groups, political parties, the ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Inter-religious council, local media houses, councillors, the citizens radio programmes and discussion with young women in the four districts areas (Pujehun, Bonthe, Kailaun and Kono). Jingles were also produced to promote the GWE bill, the jingles developed in English were also translated into five different local languages: Mende, Sherbro, Kissi, Kono, and Krio. These activities resulted in increased knowledge and appreciation of the Gender and Empowerment bill, 2021, hundreds of commitments obtained from relevant groups in the four districts to support and popularize the bill using their various platforms and through various actions and Data and evidence obtained to informed future planning and programming for young women interested and willingness to contest in election in Sierra Leone. Inserted herewith is a Photo link from some of the sensitization on the GEWE Bill, 2021 https://bit.ly/31MKOzT UN Women through the project, selected and trained 80 young women and men (55 Females and 25 Males) in coding, animation, Gender appreciation and advocacy over two weeks and this resulted in the trainees gaining requisite knowledge and skills in coding and animation, requisite knowledge on basic concepts in gender and gender mainstreaming appreciation of the GEWE bill. Several relevant animation videos developed in English and local languages developed to promote the GEWE bill and women political participation and leadership. As a result of the same training, some new partnerships were forged with government agencies, UN Agencies (including Head of Mission), embassies, development partners, women group, and the private sectors. Specific commitment made by the National Youth Commissioner SL to support the youth network formed because of the training; Salone Youth Empowerment Network (SYEAN) to carry out more relevant development in partnership with UN Women going forward. The New Youth network;(SYEAN) within the project cycle worked with UN Women, the Youth Commission to organize a 16 Days of Activism 2021, Multiple stakeholders Meeting which with top government officials from the office of the Vice President, Ministry of Gender and Children Affairs was represented by the Deputy Minister, representatives from other relevant agencies; Social Welfare, Defense, Ministry of State, head of development partners; CSOs, women groups, coordinators and managers of the SGBV One-Stop-Center and others. The meeting resulted in several robust conversations and commitments to end all forms of gender-based violence in Sierra Leone including violence against women in election. Inserted herewith are relevant links from activities. Several discussions, training and advocacy sessions were held with formal and informal Political Leaders, CSOs and Male and Female influencers during the project in line with the project inputs and ‘leaving no one behind principal’ and the following results were achieved: Paramount chiefs promised to remove structural and systemic barriers that inhibits and limited women participation in decision making processes and governance. They also promised to contribute towards funding women aspirants and candidates. Relevant stakeholders from formal and informal institutions (Paramount Chiefs, Heforshe, Elected Leaders, CSO Duty Bearers) at the district levels gained appreciable knowledge about the context and contents of the Gender Empowerment Bill, 2021, sensitized on the roes they should play in promoting the bill and supporting women in politics and their commitments obtained toward popularization and support for the processes of passing the bill. Men and boys’ networks at the district levels gained appreciable knowledge about the context and contents of the Gender Empowerment Bill, 2021 and their commitment received toward popularization and support for the processes of passing the bill and for women political participation and leadership
outcome XM-DAC-41146-SLE_D_2.1
By 2023, Sierra Leone (particularly women farmers) benefits from a more productive, commercialized and sustainable agriculture, improved food and nutrition security, and increased resilience to climate change and other shocks.
During the period under review . The CO made foundational partnership with CAMSERV to engage women in groundnut farming in the north off Sierra Leone. It is expected that this will be implemented during 2022
outcome XM-DAC-41146-SLE_D_3.1
Institutional, , policy , Legal and regulatory frameworks for the protection of the rights of women and girls are further developed, promoted and implemented
During the period of review the CO supported two additional OSC to add to the five existing fully operational OSCs in government hospitals . The OSC were established in Mattru Jong Government Hospital and Karene. The OSCs provide holistic services (health, psychosocial support, legal and police services) to survivors of GBV under one roof and free of charge. The free GBV hotline line continues to support the OSC. In addition, in order to strengthen the Port Loko and Moyamba One Stop Center, UN Women has paying regular monitoring visits and engaging staff within the OSC and Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs on how to improve services. To reflect the commitment of the Government to GBV response Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs (MoGCA) and partners developed and launched the National Strategy for SGBV response. The strategy focuses on increasing the quantity of survivor-centric services, reaching down to chiefdom level in relation to the nature and extent of the need, with special emphasis on how the newly opened multi-disciplinary one stop-centres in hospitals can provide comprehensive and inclusive services. The strategy also crucially addresses the importance of the quality of services through its attention to training, protocols and standard operating procedures for use by service-providers in line with existing national documents and international best practice.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-SLE_D_3.2
Community behaviours towards women and girls’ rights have changed towards increased understanding and respect of these rights.
As part of the 16 days activism over 8,000 community men and women were sensitized on gender-based violence including end rape sexual abuse through UN Women support. 40 men and women walked 535 miles over a period of 40 day walk to raise awareness on SGBV issues in Sierra Leone. During the period the team were joined by various local non-governmental organisations from the Community of Practice Against Gender Based to raise awareness on Sexual Gender Based Violence, the referral pathway of GBV and use of one Stop centres and RAINBO centre to report cases of gender-based violence and for survivors centred care. The messages targeted men, women boys and girls to realise their potential to identify SGBV problems and devise sustainable solutions. In addition, the team were taken to 5 different community radio stations where they engaged with the community during phone in programmes in partnership with local NGOs. The awareness-raising effort not only called attention to the Presidential declaration of rape and sexual assault as a national emergency by President Bio in 2019, but it also speaks to Goal 5 (gender equality) of the SDGs.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-SLE_D_4.1
National Commiments to WPS are adequately implemented monitored and adapted to changing circumstances.
During the period under review the CO worked closely with the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces on a Barrier Assessment to identify challenges facing women in getting meaningful participating in peacekeeping missions using Measuring Opportunities for Women in Peace Operations (MOWIP) Methodology. This project is critical to the implementation of the implementation of the Sierra Leone National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325. To ensure a smooth implementation of the project, a project management and implementation team was formed, comprising of a RSLAF Technical Advisory Team (TAT) (3 men and 3 women), a national Consultant and a UN Women Programme Specialist. The smooth process of the Fieldwork and coordination with the RSLAF was facilitated by the National Consultant. The Consultant’s responsibilities included but were not limited to identifying enumerators with the responsibility to undertake field work in collaboration with Cornell University and DECAF. The lead Consultant also worked very closely with RSLAF in identifying locations for the survey and ensuring quality control of enumerators in the field based on recommendations from Cornell University. The Field work was administered by 8 Enumerators (2 women and 6 men). An essential component of a successful research project is a well-trained research team. Prior to the Field Work four different sets of training were conducted for the Enumerators. Upon the request of the Director of Gender RSLAF, the RSLAF Technical Advisory Team also participated in the training for them to better under the MOWIP methodology and give effective support to the Survey Implementation. All training was conducted virtually with Cornell University facilitating interactive sessions. During the field work, a total of 385 questionnaires were administered and completed (189 women and 196 men). The Consultant worked closely with the UN Women, Cornell University and RSLAF to review the survey instruments. Series of meetings were organized to plan on the execution of the survey in locations identified by RSLAF, including Freetown in the West, Bo in the South, Makeni in the Northwest Lungi and Kambia in the Northeast, Kenema and Kono in the East. Interviews were conducted mainly in Military Barracks in various parts of the Country, the Ministry of Defense/RSLAF and the Military Training School. The findings will be presented early next year.Showing 1 - 5 of 6
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References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).