By Isatu Yollah Bangura, Intern
The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs (MoGCA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) under the Food System Resilience Project (FSRP), in a move aimed at promoting gender equality and social inclusion in Sierra Leone’s food systems.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry, the Minister described the agreement as a defining moment in the country’s pursuit of inclusive and resilient national development.
She said the partnership goes beyond an administrative arrangement, describing it as a strategic commitment to integrating gender equality, social inclusion, and protection against gender-based violence (GBV) into the country’s food systems.
The partnership recognizes that resilient food systems depend on resilient communities, with women and children playing important roles in food production, distribution, and household nutrition. However, they often face disproportionate levels of poverty, exclusion, and violence.
Under the agreement, both Ministries will work to ensure that interventions implemented through the FSRP incorporate gender mainstreaming and safeguards against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA), Sexual Harassment (SH), and GBV.
The partnership will also promote equitable access to resources, opportunities, and essential services, particularly for vulnerable groups.
MoGCA will provide technical leadership in gender analysis, capacity building, safeguarding, and community engagement. The Ministry will also support efforts to strengthen institutional mechanisms for the prevention of and response to GBV, SEA, and SH.
The agreement further reinforces Sierra Leone’s commitment to the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act 2022, the National Gender Policy, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goals 2, 5, and 16, as well as international commitments under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Maputo Protocol.
The partnership demonstrates the importance of inter-ministerial collaboration in translating national policies and commitments into practical action.
By mainstreaming gender equality and social inclusion across the country’s food systems, the two Ministries aim to strengthen resilience against shocks while creating a more inclusive environment where women, men, girls, and boys can live, work, and thrive in safety, equality, and prosperity.
The collaboration is expected to contribute to stronger food systems and advance Sierra Leone’s broader goal of achieving inclusive and sustainable national development.