By: Aminata Sesay
The Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Parliamentary Female Caucus, on Tuesday, 27 January 2026, convened a Male Allyship Commitment Meeting involving members of the Female Caucus and male Members of Parliament. The engagement aimed to foster a Male Allyship Framework to promote gender-responsive governance within Parliament.
The meeting was held at the New Administrative Conference Hall of the Parliament of Sierra Leone.
Speaking at the event, the Deputy Director of Research, Programmes and Partnerships at the Parliament of Sierra Leone, Mr. Paul Saidu Turay, acknowledged the collaborative efforts of WFD and Parliament in championing male allyship within the legislative institution. He underscored the importance of male engagement in advancing gender equality and inclusive governance.
In his presentation, Mr. Turay outlined the gender composition of the Parliament of Sierra Leone, placing it within both global and national frameworks, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5) on gender equality. He further explained the logical framework (logframe) of the initiative, including its overall goal, strategic objectives, and expected outcomes. According to him, the framework seeks to strengthen the HeForShe agenda and promote gender-responsive parliamentary practices.
The Deputy Leader II of Government Business, Hon. Emerson Saa Lamina, commended WFD for its continued support in strengthening the work of the Parliamentary Female Caucus. He emphasized the critical role of male allyship in advancing gender mainstreaming and inclusive participation within Parliament.
Other male Members of Parliament, including Hon. Dr. Umpah Sorie Koroma and Hon. Jibrilla Surmoijueh, among others, expressed appreciation for the Male Allyship Framework and pledged their commitment to working closely with the Parliamentary Female Caucus to ensure its effective implementation.
The Deputy Chief Whip I of Parliament, Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay, also welcomed the framework and called for greater male involvement in parliamentary leadership, including active participation in the programmes and activities of the Female Caucus.
At the conclusion of the programme, male Members of Parliament signed an institutional commitment to gender-responsive governance and the implementation of SDG 5.
In her closing remarks, the President of the Sierra Leone Parliamentary Female Caucus, Hon. Bernadette Wuyatta Songa, expressed appreciation to WFD and the male allies for their unwavering support. She further announced plans to establish a HeForShe Chapter within the Parliament of Sierra Leone.