By: Aminata Sesay
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development and other United Nations agencies, has engaged communities in four districts as part of efforts to strengthen peacebuilding and conflict prevention in Sierra Leone.
The consultations were held in Kono, Tonkolili, Western Area Rural and Western Area Urban under the Sustaining Peace and Social Cohesion through a National-led Prevention Approach in Sierra Leone (SPESOCO) project, funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund.
The project brings together UNDP, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and UN Women to support the Government of Sierra Leone in developing and piloting a National Prevention Strategy and Action Plan to strengthen the country’s capacity to prevent conflicts and sustain peace.
The district consultations provided a platform for local authorities, community leaders, women, young people and civil society organizations to learn about the project and participate in selecting chiefdoms for planned peacebuilding interventions.
The selection process is designed to promote transparency and ensure that community needs and local perspectives inform the implementation of the initiative.
Through SPESOCO, the project partners aim to strengthen national and local capacities for conflict prevention, promote social cohesion and encourage inclusive participation in peacebuilding.
The initiative also seeks to improve coordination among stakeholders and address potential sources of tension before they escalate into conflicts, rather than relying mainly on interventions after disputes have occurred.
The consultations represent a step towards developing a nationally owned framework for conflict prevention, with communities expected to play a central role in identifying priorities and shaping interventions.
By combining government leadership, support from United Nations agencies and community participation, the initiative aims to establish a stronger foundation for sustainable peace across Sierra Leone.