By: Precious Miracle Kargbo Snr
The Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Hon. Isata Mahoi, has called on stakeholders in Moyamba District to support the Gender-Responsive Local Governance Project, describing it as a significant step toward building inclusive institutions and improving service delivery for all citizens.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ engagement in Moyamba this week, Minister Mahoi emphasized the need for local governance structures to intentionally create opportunities for women, girls, and other marginalized groups to participate in decision-making processes that directly affect their communities.
“Inclusive governance is not a favour; it is a right,” Minister Mahoi stated. “When we strengthen institutions to become gender-responsive, we improve service delivery, enhance accountability, and strengthen democracy itself.”
The Gender-Responsive Local Governance Project seeks to integrate gender equality principles into the planning, budgeting, and implementation of local council programmes. The initiative focuses on women’s empowerment, leadership development for female councillors, gender mainstreaming in local policies, and improving access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and water.
Minister Mahoi urged traditional leaders, civil society organizations, local council officials, and development partners to work together through strong partnerships to ensure the project achieves meaningful results at the community level.
“We cannot do this alone. Government, councils, chiefdoms, women’s groups, and our partners must work together to make governance effective for everyone,” she said. “Empowering women is not only about fairness; it is about unlocking the full potential of our communities and our nation.”
Local authorities in Moyamba welcomed the initiative, noting that gender-responsive planning would help identify gaps in service delivery, improve resource allocation, and ensure that development benefits reach the people who need them most.
The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs stated that similar stakeholder engagements will be conducted in other districts as part of broader efforts to strengthen decentralization, promote equality, and advance inclusive governance across Sierra Leone.