By: Aminata Sesay
A new partnership between the Socfin Agricultural Company (SAC) and Women Against Violence and Exploitation in Sierra Leone (WAVES-SL) aims to strengthen community-level action against sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Malen Chiefdom.
The collaboration combines private sector leadership with civil society expertise to improve prevention, reporting, and survivor support systems within SAC’s operational areas. The engagement, held in Bo, builds on the recent rollout of the Socfin Group Policy on Sexual Harassment and Violence, which reinforces a zero-tolerance approach to abuse and workplace misconduct.
Led by Mr. Charles Thomas, SAC’s Gender Committee met with the WAVES-SL team to map out interventions that translate policy commitments into tangible impact. Key areas of focus include community sensitization programs to raise awareness of rights and reporting pathways. Specialized capacity-building for Gender Committee members. Access to professional counselling services for survivors of SGBV.
The partnership is expected to ensure that survivors in and around Malen Chiefdom receive confidential, professional support, while communities are empowered with knowledge about their rights and avenues for reporting abuse.
WAVES-SL, widely recognized for its work in combating gender-based violence in Sierra Leone, described the initiative as a critical step toward building survivor-centered systems at the grassroots level. The organization welcomed SAC’s proactive engagement, noting the important role of corporate actors in fostering safe environments within workplaces and host communities.
SAC representatives emphasized that safeguarding dignity and equality is not only a compliance obligation but a social responsibility. They affirmed the company’s commitment to embedding accountability, inclusion, and respect throughout its operations.
As national efforts continue to address SGBV, the SAC–WAVES-SL collaboration represents a model of shared responsibility one that integrates policy, prevention, and practical support to create safer, more equitable communities in Malen Chiefdom and beyond.