By Saidu Jalloh
In a groundbreaking bilateral meeting, Honorable Isata Mahoi, Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs of Sierra Leone, joined forces with the Deputy Executive Director and Deputy Under Secretary General of the United Nations to bolster efforts aimed at advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Expressing profound appreciation for UN Women’s unwavering support, Minister Mahoi highlighted pivotal advancements in implementing the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act 2022. She underlined collaborative initiatives, including the development of an accountability framework with the assistance of a UN Women consultant to oversee gender mainstreaming and budgeting across ministries. Notably, the establishment of the GEWE Secretariat, with backing from the World Bank, signifies a monumental stride forward.
Economic empowerment took center stage as Minister Mahoi showcased the success of the matching fund initiative in Falaba district, a tripartite effort between the Government of Sierra Leone, UN Women, and CARE International, significantly benefiting local women through equipment provision and financial aid.
Addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV), the Minister reported on the operational achievements of the 7 One Stop Centres supported by UN Women, while also acknowledging persistent challenges such as transportation and safe housing for survivors. The impending signing of Spotlight 2.0, with support from the EU and the UN system in Sierra Leone, aims to intensify efforts in combating GBV.
Furthermore, Minister Mahoi underscored the imperative of addressing GBV risks in cross-border trade and affirmed plans to collaborate with various ministries to address these challenges. Sierra Leone’s commitment to the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda was emphasized, with the development of the country’s 3rd Generation National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325 and 1820 as testament to this dedication.
Deputy Executive Director Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda commended Sierra Leone’s innovative approaches and urged sustained financing prioritization for women’s empowerment. The significance of Sierra Leone’s contributions to the WPS Agenda, particularly amidst instability in the Sahel region and its ripple effects across ECOWAS and MRU regions, was highlighted.
The Regional Director for UN Women in West and Central Africa lauded Sierra Leone’s pioneering adoption of a sector-wide approach to government accountability in gender equality. Collaboration prospects on economic empowerment and partnerships with entities like the African Development Bank were affirmed.
The meeting culminated with the Head of the UN Women Office in Sierra Leone reaffirming support, marking a pivotal day of progress towards gender equality and women’s empowerment in Sierra Leone.
